Renowned sculptor Sabin Howard recently unveiled his 60ft-long bronze sculpture, A Soldier’s Journey, at the World War I Memorial in Washington DC. The sculpture features 38 figures and aims to honor the 4.7 million Americans who served in the first world war. Howard, a soldier of peace, describes his work as “a film in bronze”, depicting the horror of war and the impact it has on soldiers and their families.
Howard, who grew up in various countries and considers himself the embodiment of the American dream, wanted to make a contribution to his country by creating a powerful and emotive piece of art. The sculpture, which cost $8 million and weighs 25 tons, follows the journey of an unnamed soldier as he goes off to fight, experiences the horrors of war, and ultimately returns home to his daughter.
The sculptor’s elaborate journey to create the artwork involved using real military veterans as models in his New York studio, before eventually working with a foundry in Britain to realize his vision. With each figure sculpted in clay and then cast in bronze, Howard aimed to evoke a sense of emotion and solidarity among viewers, urging them to reflect on the lessons of history and the consequences of war.
By unveiling A Soldier’s Journey, Howard hopes to not only pay tribute to those who served in World War I but also to remind society of the devastating impact of war and the importance of learning from past mistakes. The sculpture serves as a memorial to humanity and a warning against the potential consequences of sleepwalking into another world war.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com