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Why did Henry Moore turn away from the traditional European sculpture he saw in London museums?
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Henry Moore
Henry Moore in his studio, mid-1960s; photo by Gisèle Freund.
Henry Moore turned away from the traditional European sculpture he encountered in London museums because he was actively reacting against that established tradition. Instead, he sought inspiration in what he termed "primitive" and archaic art, discovering the power and beauty of Egyptian, Etruscan, pre-Columbian, and African sculpture.1