Seventeen Reclining Figures
- Artist: Henry Moore OM, CH
- Date: 1963–9
- Medium: Lithograph on paper
- Dimensions: image: 432 x 543 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the “Seventeen Reclining Figures” by Henry Moore. Created in 1963‑9 as a lithograph on paper, the piece captures the sculptor’s fascination with the human form in motion. While Moore is best known for his monumental bronze and stone sculptures, here we see him translating that scale into a printed medium, condensing the drama of dozens of bodies into a single sheet. The composition is a series of abstracted, reclining figures, each rendered with bold lines that suggest the curves of the human body. The lithograph plays with perspective, making the figures appear to float and interpenetrate, echoing the way Moore often layered forms in his three‑dimensional work. It sits on the edge between abstraction and recognisable human postures, inviting viewers to consider how we perceive bodies in repose. Though printed on paper, the lithograph carries Moore’s trademark solidity and sense of volume. It was presented by the artist in 1975, a testament to his continued experimentation with form and medium.
See it in person
Seventeen Reclining Figures is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
