Barbara Hepworth runs at the Rijksmuseum until the 23rd of October.

The exhibition provides an overview of her monumental, late work from the 1960s and early 1970s. The majority come from English public gardens and parks and rarely leave their permanent location. With the geometric sculpture Construction (Crucifixion) from the cloister garden of Salisbury Cathedral, Hepworth refers to the visual language of her friend Piet Mondrian and thus also to her special relationship with the Netherlands.

Barbara Hepworth is one of the pioneers of modernism in sculpture. This was a movement in the early 20th century that broke with tradition and introduced innovative forms of expression. As a twenty-something she already stood out with her modern sculptures of wood, stone and marble. A characteristic of Hepworth is the piercing of the forms with holes.

Hepworth is one of the few internationally successful female artists of her generation. She is considered a role model for younger generations. She granted herself an emancipating role by explicitly calling herself sculptor instead of sculptress. Attention to her life and work fits in with the current demand for a more balanced representation of male and female artists.