Bull

Vojin Bakic was one of the most important Croatian sculptors of the 20th century. He created a body of work with international significance that reflected the development from objective to abstract art. His most famous work, Bull, is situated on the threshold between these two artistic styles. A large version of the sculpture was first exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1956. It came to represent the state of Yugoslavia when it was installed in front of the young country’s pavilion at the Expo-World Fair two years later. There, the sculpture aroused the interest of the international art community: the city of Antwerp purchased it for the sculpture park in Middelheim, and then the city of Marl acquired another version of the Bull in bronze.

The large bronze sculpture only depicts the animal through its outline. From its gently curved form, the four legs project as pointed cones, and the horns protrude as subtly indicated points. The overall shape conveys an impression of a concentrated dynamic force that can be discharged at any moment. Although the Bull is somewhat abstract, the essential characteristics of this species are captured and reproduced in an impressively simple form.