Cornelis Zitman

CORNELIS ZITMAN (Leiden, Netherlands, 1926–Caracas, Venezuela, 2016). “Odalisque I,” 1976.
Bronze. Unnumbered multiple edition.
Includes a certificate issued by the artist and an artist’s book.
Measurements: 105.5 x 11 x 12 cm.
Odalisca I is an intriguing sculpture by Cornelis Zitman that reflects his unique approach to the human figure, centered on the sensuality of the forms, the boldness of the volumes, and the expressiveness of the poses. Created in 1976, it depicts a pregnant woman in a resting pose, kneeling or reclining on soft-looking cushions that help define the composition. The figure is characterized by a deliberately stylized anatomy, in which the artist accentuates the curves and proportions to move away from any naturalistic pretensions. The body becomes a succession of organic volumes, where the posture and the relationship between the different parts of the anatomy create a balance between stability and movement.
Cornelis Zitman was a Dutch sculptor who became a Venezuelan citizen; he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. In 1947, he moved to Venezuela, where he spent much of his career and found the primary cultural and human context for his work. His international recognition was cemented following his exhibition at the Galerie Dina Vierny in Paris in 1971 and his First Prize at the Budapest Sculpture Biennial that same year. He subsequently exhibited in cities such as Paris, New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Caracas, and participated in the São Paulo Biennial. His work is included in major collections such as those of the National Art Gallery in Caracas, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Caracas, the Musée Maillol in Paris, and MoMA in New York. Zitman is considered a key figure in 20th-century Venezuelan sculpture and one of the artists who best knew how to fuse his European tradition with Latin American culture and imagination.