Torso of a Man

myminifactory

After 1900 Minne received numerous commissions for portraits and monuments. The funerary monuments created for the Osthaus family during 1906-1909 already showcase a distinct shift towards a more realistic representation of nature. Between 1910 and 1913, the artist completely eliminates any form of stylization from his work. He attends anatomy classes at the University of Ghent and begins working with live models, using Lacaege as his primary model, who lives with him during this period. Over three years, Minne dedicates himself with unwavering determination to achieve perfection in accurately rendering the male body. This results in Head of a Man from 1910, a bust created in 1911, and The Docker, a torso sculpture completed between 1911-1912. Lacaege also serves as the model for The Ship Unloader, finished by Minne in 1913.