Petite Terracotta Female Bather by Emmanuel Cavacos c. 1920 - 7"

This finely modeled terracotta sculpture of a nude female figure, hand-shaped in warm buff clay with a soft matte surface, conveys both elegance and intimacy. Seated on a rocky outcrop, she leans forward with fingers splayed, her head gently tilted and lips curved into a serene smile. Her loosely textured hair and simplified volumes recall classical nymphs or goddesses, yet the complete nudity and frank naturalism introduce a distinctly modern sensibility. Subtle tool marks enliven the stone-like base, while natural clay blushes lend warmth and depth. Signed Cavacos to the base.

The bather has been a favored subject since antiquity, revived with particular vigor in late 19th- and early 20th-century European sculpture. This example reflects a modern classical approach allied to the Art Deco era, where calm poise, rounded modeling, and restrained detail convey serenity rather than virtuoso realism. Terracotta, valued for its immediacy and tactile presence, was often used for atelier studies and small editions, allowing sculptors to capture gesture and mood with economy and finesse.

Emmanuel Cavacos (1885–1976), born in Greece, first studied painting at the Maryland Institute before devoting himself to sculpture. Awarded the Rinehart scholarship in 1911, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français and in 1926 created a fountain for the Greek pavilion at the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs. A brief return to the United States in 1930 saw the Baltimore Museum of Art dedicate an exhibition to his work. His favored subjects, the “heads of bacchantes” and dancers, were often inspired by his wife, whose features are also echoed in this figure, lending it both intimacy and individuality.