Hugo Siegwart

HUGO SIEGWART (Switzerland, 1865-1938).
"Nude athlete throwing a rock," c. 1900.
Patinated bronze and marble base.
Signed.
Measurements: 90 x 63 x 37 cm.
Cast in bronze, the piece presents a young man in the moment before throwing a heavy rock, captured in a pose of dynamic tension that combines balance, strength and concentration. The body, completely nude, has been modeled with meticulous attention to anatomical detail, highlighting the defined musculature and the torso's torsion that evidences physical exertion. Siegwart demonstrates here his mastery of sculptural language by combining a rigorous study of human movement with an expressive sensibility that transcends simple academicism.
Hugo Siegwart was a prominent Swiss sculptor and medalist whose work is characterized by a naturalistic realism and a notable presence in the Swiss public sphere in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He initially studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Arts and Crafts) in Lucerne, which brought him closer to the applied artistic trades. at the age of nineteen he moved to train abroad: in Munich he attended classes at the Academy of Fine Arts under Max von Widnmann, and then moved to Paris, where he studied at the Académie Julian with Henri Chapu; he subsequently entered the École des Beaux-Arts to train with Alexandre Falguière. After his return to Switzerland in 1890, Siegwart established his own workshop in Lucerne and began to receive public and private commissions. His output encompassed monumental sculptures, busts, small figures, architectural reliefs and medals. He was characterized by a realistic approach, a meticulous appreciation of human forms and natural details, while at the same time he participated in the artistic currents of Europe, absorbing influences from the places where he studied.