Barbara Hepworth - Figures in a Landscape (1953) - extract

Narrated by future Poet Laureate Cecil Day Lewis, 'Figures in a Landscape' offers a poetic portrait of sculptor Barbara Hepworth and the otherworldly Cornwall landscapes that inspired her work. Priaulx Rainier's haunting score beautifully complements the extraordinary works of art, placed in the Cornish spaces that influenced them. Hepworth had been commissioned to design sculptures for the Festival of Britain two years before this film, and remains one of Britain's most celebrated sculptors - she was made a Dame in 1965. She died during a fire at her St. Ives studio in 1975. (Alex Davidson)
All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collect...

[@RoweFilms]

Amazing. Barbara's Great Nephew here, from Cornwall. She passed away before my time but my mum remembers her well. Wish I had the opportunity to meet her! Inspirational.

[@ivegotafullmoon]

The qualities of the sculpture, narration, camera work and music are entirely of their time and authentic. A great little film.

[@ibanitza]

i cannot thank you enough for this incredible posting of brilliance

[@chadwicksmartensup7071]

wonderful

[@noelfrancois3591]

Exceptionnel . j'aime la voir travailler la matière avec une volupté évidente à l'ombres des palmiers . J'aime le chat sur le socle & le dialogue des sculptures "percées" avec le clocher . BRAVO

[@caminanteh9444]

one of my favorite sculptors

[@breezerhouse]

her work is such a wonder

[@wishythenwashy]

delightful

[@downhill240]

Such beauty!

[@valentinemcguire8772]

Very very good!!!!🔴🔴🔴🔴

[@traditionalflack9919]

just the ticket for inspiration

[@whiffofbrine920]

brilliant

[@timbum1000]

Wow.. This is really interesting and in colour!!!

[@CosmoWenman]

Everything about this video is pure nightmare fuel.

[@christineelliott7395]

Fabulous and - love it

[@amandajstar]

This sounds like a children's story!

[@mujawooja]

facinating though the music is very distracting
bernie

[@frankem51]

That is not the voice of Cecil Day Lewis narrating, though that is what the BFI's Explore website says. The BFI says words were by Jacquetta Hawkes. I wonder whether the credits have been swopped round by mistake, so that the words were written by Lewis and the narration spoken by Hawkes.

[@willgeorge7203]

Great score. Did Rainier compose that for the film or was it an existing piece?

[@frankem51]

That is not Cecil Day Lewis narrating. It's probably Jacquetta Hawkes.

[@scottbookman]

is making sculptures as scary as this music would make you think ????

[@christianegonbarnthaler1426]

super 1

[@dianafernandes4594]

whats the name of the first sculpture?

[@silverapples75]

To me, Barbara's works are like symbols, ciphers from a place of deeper, subtler meaning. The feelings they invoke are ineffable, maybe too delicate to verbalise.

[@franciscoeme]

She didn’t use any machines ? Everything by hand ?

[@noclu9683]

Back before safety goggles, I'd assume

[@moboutmen]

Eye protection?

[@professormcclaine5738]

The music is a distraction the BH sculptre the narrative and sounds of the sea would be enough.

[@SirNeutral]

Much better muted.

[@Cabronosidad]

Woah, Barbara! No eye protection?
Great film. Terrible music!

[@Wantedbugbear]

Google celebration has her skin tone very very dark. Why can't they just portray her as white.

[@fordlandau]

not wearing eye protection...and Cornwall is nothing like this anymore...

[@silverapples75]

fordlandau Have you seen Bait?

[@Bonidlebstrd]

shamanshit

[@shakirakhan7118]

horrible music that distracts for awesome talent and executiion.

[@95tupolev]

The music complements Hepworth's work admirably.

[@raid517]

Curiously cold and dead work.