Baby Donkey, [after 1940]

Among Greek sculptors, Frosso Efthymiadi stands alone in her sustained focus on animal subjects. Her dedication sprang from a belief that sculpture should be ‘an art that accompanies people in their everyday lives.’ Small works were intended for interior decoration; larger ones for private gardens or public spaces. ‘I truly love pieces that adorn the garden, and I believe animals are ideal for this,’ she remarked in a 1954 radio interview. ‘You’ll see that all my animals – the little goat, the donkey, the calf, the deer, the foal – are modelled with a realistic spirit, dictated by their intended setting. I sought to capture each animal’s characteristic movement and expression. Every time, I had to bring the live model into my studio. I’d let it roam freely about my garden […].’
Originally modelled in terracotta, her “Baby Donkey” embodies this vision. In her archive, there are photographs of the live model, which has been captured in a pose similar to the work.