Fry was instrumental in enabling Lipchitz to escape from Vichy France. After Lipchitz was relocated to New York, he renewed his friendship with Fry after Fry's return from Europe. Embracing Figures was given to Fry as a gift in 1951 around the time of his wedding. On January 5, 1952, a terrible fire at Lipchitz's studio claimed most of the artist's work, and Varian Fry and his wife were thankful that this work by Lipchitz was spared. The definitive outline of the figure's contour and implied volume through modulation of light and shadow suggests that the drawing might have been a study for a sculpture.
			Lipchitz, Jacques Embracing Figures, 1941 Watercolor on paper; 12 1/8 x 9 1/2 in; 30.8 x 24.1 cm Collection of Annette R. Fry Photograph: John Parnell, for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum