The Abduction of Europa by Hermann Haase-Ilsenburg

A poignant work of extraordinary artistry, this bronze figure captures the mythical tale of Europa, the beautiful Phoenician princess who was kidnapped by the king of the Olympian gods, Zeus. Among the most well-known stories from mythology and a favorite subject of artists in every medium, the story of Europa is beautifully translated here by sculptor Hermann Haase-Ilsenburg in the early Art Deco style.

Developing from the organic, natural forms of the Art Nouveau style that dominated the preceding decades, Haase-Ilsenburg’s work exemplifies the shift towards the symmetry and simplification of the more streamlined Art Deco. The overall graceful, clean lines of the piece mirror the ideals of the emergent style, while its relative simplicity makes it all the more emotionally compelling. The figures are delicately balanced, with Europa’s slumped figure mirroring the heavy, sloping horns of her steed. Haase-Ilsenburg flawlessly infuses a sense of humanity into his classical subject, all while merging the ancient myth with a new iconography.

Drawn from Greek mythology, the story of Europa is among the most enduring stories of Zeus’ numerous amorous pursuits. The daughter of a Phoenician king, Europa was renowned for her beauty, which eventually inspired the love of the Olympian god. Taking the form of a bull, Zeus kidnapped the young princess and carried her to the island of Crete, where she bore him three sons, including Minos, the future King of Crete. Europa eventually gave her name to the continent of Europe, and even today an image of Europa and the bull graces the Euro coin. Widely interpreted by artists for centuries, this myth comes to life in this exquisite bronze.

Circa 1910

Signed “HHaase” (on base)

23 1/2" high x 17" wide x 8" deep