Jacques Lipchitz has been con-sidered to be the modern successor to Auguste Rodin because of his handling of symbolic themes in an expressive manner and in his preference for modeling his materials over carving.

 

Lipchitz was born in Lithuania in 1891 and studied architecture at Vilno. In 1909 he moved to Paris where he studied sculpture at the Academie des Beaux-Art and Academies Julian and Colarossi. While in Paris he became friends with noted artists Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso and Juan Gris. It was from these friendships that he gained an interest in more modern art.

 

In 1914, encouraged by his acquaintances as well as his natural adoration for African tribal sculpture, Lipchitz fell under the influence of cubism and began to abandon his prior stylized naturalistic forms. Following Picasso’s lead and inspired by his compatriot, Archipenko, Lipchitz successfully adapted the theories of the Cubism to sculpture.

 

In works from 1914 - 1927, Lipchitz sculpted in his Cubist style of interwoven planes in three-dimensional work. By 1930, the artist began softening the jagged-edged style of cubism and returned to realism in figurative sculpture.

 

With the Nazi invasion of France in 1941, Lipchitz fled to New York, where he lived and worked until his death in 1973.

 

Sacrifice III shows Lipchitz’s interest in mythological and biblical subjects. He worked on various versions of Sacrifice II between 1949 and 1957. These are years that the artist spent in the United States, having taken refuge here during World War II. It reflects his personal experience of persecution and displacement. Sacrifice III depicts the Biblical story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. Lipchitz uses allegory to portray Isaac as the rooster in Abraham’s hands. The ram that was sent to replace Isaac is shown between Abraham’s legs.