WP3: Pre-Writing Assignment 3

There are many different aspects of this sculpture – Torso, by William Zorach– to take into consideration when attempting to analyze it, its effect on its viewer and the possible arguments it makes. The first aspect I would like to further address is the material from which it is constructed.

Torso, though originally created from a rougher stone material called Labrador Granite (see previous blog post), the sculpture that is now on display in the UNL Sheldon Sculpture Garden was constructed using the beautiful and popular metal alloy, bronze. The question as to why this was specifically chosen for this piece is not normally among the first questions that come to mind when considering the meaning and the emotion behind the sculpture, but it is very important in its all-around and complete (or near-complete) comprehension. Since speaking of the material that makes up the sculpture falls into the category of the construction of the piece, we will now refer to this choice and utilization as an appeal to logos. Bronze is called a “metal alloy” because it is not a natural metal at all. It is actually a mixture of various amounts of the natural metals copper and tin. It is known to be a very durable material, especially when properly taken care of.

For over 3,000 years, bronze has been used in various human inventions, including various weapons, tools, coins, bells, piping, and more. Bronze was used in these different inventions mainly as a result of its characteristics of strength and durability. This is also most likely the reason why bronze was used in the construction of Zorach’s Torso. To create an even more durable material, phosphorous is also added – especially to harden bronze for machine parts and tubing. Lead is used to prepare the bronze for casting, which was the way Torso was created.

When bringing all of this information together, it is much easier to understand the reason why bronze was used in the construction of this art-object. By using this material, the sculpture is able to withstand the intense weather conditions it undergoes – especially in the winters – being located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Furthermore, perhaps Zorach wanted this strong material to represent the strength that he sees in women. Though it is not the original material used in this sculpture, its selection plays a large role in the way we see it today, and all of these things help to support the appeal to logos we find in this particular sculpture.