Eva Hesse
American, born Germany, 1936–1970
Sans II, 1968
Fiberglass and polyester resin
Purchase through a gift of Phyllis C. Wattis, 1999
Hesse's primary sculptural material of the late 1960s was a latex and polyester resin, used here to mimic the repeating progressions of Minimal art. Although obviously synthetic, it has an organic quality as well, which tempers the uniformity of the structure with unexpected irregularities. First shown at Hesse's debut solo exhibition, Sans // was conceived as one of five identical units linked together. Considered impossible to sell as a whole, the sculpture was divided and dispersed as separate works at the end of the show.
