Event Presentation - Houston Fine Arts

1. H U M A 1 3 0 5 - I N T R O D U C T I O N T O
M E X I C A N A M E R I C A N S T U D I E S
Houston Museum of Fine Arts

2. F O R O U R P R E S E N T A T I O N I
V I S I T E D T H E M U S E U M O F F I N E
A R T S O N A T H U R S D A Y . I T I S
F R E E A D M I S S I O N C O U R T E S Y O F
S H E L L O I L C O M P A N Y . E X C E P T
F O R T I C K E T E D E X H I B I T I O N S .
P L U S , I T S A L S O O P E N T I L L
9 : 0 0 P M
O H ! A N D F R E E P A R K I N G !
T H E I R O N Y H E R E I S I N T H E
P A R K I N G G A R A G E T H E R E A R E
P A R K I N G S P O T S R E S E R V E D
F O R L O W E M I S S I O N C A R S .
S H E L L I S A N O I L A N D G A S
C O M P A N Y . I F O U N D I T I R O N I C


3. W H I L E A T T H E M U S E U M I V I S I T E D
T H E I M P R E S S I O N I S T A N D P O S T -
I M P R E S S I O N I S T M A S T E R P I E C E S
E X H I B I T
Impressionism was developed in France in the nineteenth century and is
based on the practice of painting outdoors and spontaneously ‘on the spot’
rather than in a studio from sketches.
- Tate. (n.d.). Impressionism. Tate. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-
terms/i/impressionism

4. Theseus and the
Minotaur, 1942 by
Jacques Lipchitz

5. 1. Description
•This piece is called Theseus and the Minotaur by Jacques Lipchitz. Lipchitz created this piece in 1942
after Fleeing from a Nazi occupied France to New York. This is created from bronze. The heating of
the elements and imperfections that comes with the shaping of the material but also the finer details
shows the craftsmanship and skill to work with this type of material. Theseus, the Greek Hero
represents “all of us” or humankind fighting the forces of darkness. The sculpture represents there is a
darkness or Hitler in each of us whom we must destroy.
2. Analysis
Describe how the work/event is organized as a complete composition:
I think Jacques constructed for you to see the simile in the bull and the person by showcasing the
hand instead of a hoof. Also, by making the body of the bull become one with the body of the human.
These also morphs the two together and highlights the human and monster as one being. He then
represents us destroying the darkness in us by destroying the monster half of the two.

6. 3. Interpretation
Describe how the work/event makes you think or feel:
I find this piece to be very moving and meaningful. I don’t think we all are as evil as to the
extent of Hitler, maybe some of us and maybe not. But everyone has the internal good vs
evil struggle. Darkness vs light. You have to tame your inner evil and be the good you
want to see in life. Be the good you want in the world for your children.
4. Evaluation
Present your opinion of the event/work’s success or failure:
The works originality and ability to make you look from different aspects and look inside
yourself make this piece a success. Its also a reminder to continue to move forward and
not forget history. While in Germany this March we were able to visit a Memorial Camp –
Dachau in Munich and this reminds me of many bronze works on display there.

7. C I TAT I O N S
• Theseus and the minotaur. Pearlman Collection. (2018, September 7).
https://www.pearlmancollection.org/artwork/theseus-and-the-minotaur/
• - Tate. (n.d.). Impressionism. Tate. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-
terms/i/impressionism