Barbara Hepworth

1 6.9

A British sculptor who made modern abstract works in stone and wood

proper noun

: Barbara Hepworth

The museum hosted an exhibition of Barbara Hepworth's iconic sculptures.

Examples

Many people admire Barbara Hepworth for her innovative sculptures.
Many art students study the works of Barbara Hepworth for inspiration.
Barbara Hepworth played a significant role in the development of British modernist art.
Did you know that Barbara Hepworth was a pioneer of modern sculpture?
Barbara Hepworth's sculptures are celebrated for their abstract forms and smooth finishes.
Art enthusiasts often visit galleries to view Barbara Hepworth's masterpieces.
In many art history classes, students learn about Barbara Hepworth's contributions to modern sculpture.

Synonyms

Dame Barbara Hepworth

vsBarbara Hepworth

8.1

A famous British artist who made modern abstract sculptures

uses the plain name without the honorific title

Surface Forms

Barbara Hepworth main

Morphology

Barbara + Hepworth

This is a proper name composed of two personal names that carry no semantic cues about profession or biography; knowing the constituent forms 'Barbara' and 'Hepworth' does not allow a learner to infer 'British sculptor (1902–1975)'. Proper names are arbitrary reference markers across languages, so the specific biographical meaning is not derivable and must be learned separately.

Etymology

Barbara Hepworth was a British artist who carved smooth, simple shapes from stone and wood, often cutting holes so light and space felt part of the work. These clear images of carved forms and empty space made her name come to mean 'modern abstract sculpture' and art that connects to nature and people.