River

myminifactory

La Riviere, a striking lead or bronze sculpture by Aristide Maillol, was created with the aid of numerous apprentices through a plaster mould that he fashioned. The mould itself was begun in 1937 and completed two years later when Maillol was 85 years old. However, it wasn't until 1948, after his death, that the casts were actually made. Uncharacteristic of Maillol's composed figures, La Riviere depicts a woman in dynamic contortion, commissioned by Henri Barbusse, a pacifist and writer. Conceived as a testament to war's dangers, the piece originally showed a woman stabbed in the back or seeking refuge from an attack. When the commission fell through, Maillol persisted with the sculpture, renaming it La Riviere and reimagining the woman as a river goddess. Understanding its origins as a reflection on war's violence adds depth to the work, especially given that it was commissioned just before World War II, a time of great turmoil. As part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory, this object is being digitized for free public access through a community-driven effort to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and landmarks from around the globe. If you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate in this open-source project.