The title White Torso probably refers to the original 1916 version of this sculpture, which Archipenko carved in white marble (coll. Kunstmuseum, Düsseldorf). Although Cubism remained a clear and important influence on Archipenko's work through the end of the decade, Flat Torso of 1914 and White Torso represent a virtual antithesis to the complex planar structure which usually characterized avant-garde sculpture of this period. The approach to form in the torsos is reductionistic and looks back to archaic, Hellenistic models. With almost effortless simplicity White Torso succeeds at a pure and classical balance. Nevertheless, because their character is radical and almost severe, the torsos left little room for further stylistic development, although Archipenko returned to comparably pure figurative statements several times in the later course of his career.

The inverted 'F' applied to the numbering of this cast is an identification mark and does not signify an estate cast.