Woman with crab, 1900 – 1909 (before 1913)

About the Work

Oblivious to her surroundings, the naked woman squats on the ground. She is completely absorbed in observing a little crab running across the sand in front of her. Her crouching posture emphasises her exposed breasts but denies a glimpse of her pubic area, so that the nude portrait becomes an intimate one in a natural way. It expresses a search for simplicity and unspoilt naturalness. This genre figure was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s in particular and is one of the most frequently cast small sculptures by Maillol. Even in this small format the sculptor's preference for tranquil, harmonious and well-proportioned figures is evident.

About the Acquisition

Immediately after World War I, the art connoisseur and bibliophile Helmut Goedeckemeyer (1898–1983) began amassing one of the largest collections of prints by Käthe Kollwitz. He supplemented these holdings with works of late nineteenth-century French and German printmaking, illustrated books by Max Slevogt, Alfred Kubin and others, and small-scale sculptures by such artists as Aristide Maillol. His collection ultimately encompassed more than 5,000 works. Goedeckemeyer’s close ties to the Städel Museum date back to the 1920s. From 1959 onwards, he and his wife Hedwig were members of the Städelscher Museums-Verein (Städel Museum Association). The City of Frankfurt acquired his Kollwitz collection for the Städtische Galerie (Municipal Gallery) in 1964. He made several gifts to the Städel collection of prints and drawings over the years, and in 1970 presented the museum with Honoré Daumier’s “Ratapoil” (inv. no. St.P391).