Walt Whitman (Davidson) facts for kids
Walt Whitman is a statue by Jo Davidson of which there are several castings.
Davidson began working on a depiction of Walt Whitman after entering a competition for one in 1925. Although that statue was never realized, Davidson continued to refine what he had started.
When working on the statue Davidson first made a life-sized clay model, then had a special armature created that allowed him to independently move the arms and legs, allowing him to get the exact movement that he was seeking. Davidson stated, "Nothing in my statue of Walt Whitman could be static and finally, I got the rhythm I was after."
The statue was first exhibited at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939. Then, also in 1939 Averell Harriman (whom Davidson had already done a bust of) suggested to Davidson that the work be placed in the Bear Mountain State Park. Whitman inspected the site, found it acceptable and the statue was placed there. At the statue’s unveiling New York Park Commissioner Robert Moses quipped, "I am not sure if this is a statue of Walt Whitman by Jo Davidson or a statue of Jo Davidson by Walt Whitman."
Another casting of the statue was done in 1957, purchased by the Fairmount Park Art Association and placed at the intersection of Broad Street and Packer Avenue, near the approach to the Walt Whitman Bridge.
See also
In Spanish: Walt Whitman (estatua) para niños
