Foal, [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 “Foal” embodies this vision. In 1939, Kostas Kotzias, minister for the Greater Metropolitan Area of Athens, commissioned Efthymiadi to decorate the city’s public gardens with terracotta animal sculptures, including “Foal”, destined for Kifissia grove. The project was ultimately halted by the outbreak of war.