François POMPON (1855-1933) - Lot 244

François POMPON (1855-1933) Rabbit, 1920 Lithographic stone on high base. Signed. 16 x 14.5 x 7.3 cm François Pompon found his models of domestic animals during the summer on farms and in country barnyards. He followed their movements to represent their attitudes and proportions as faithfully as possible. A long-time practitioner for Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, Pompon renewed animal sculpture in the early 20th century with his minimalist aesthetic. He simplified forms and smoothed surfaces to rid his works of all embellishments. For the artist, "It's movement that determines form", as confirmed by the extreme economy of detail and minimalist polish of our rabbit's surfaces. Pompon likes to depict animals with fur or feathers, without the latter appearing or protruding from his extremely smooth sculptures. Pompon developed this approach by observing a goose against the light, a poetic vision in Normandy during a stay with the sculptor René de Saint Marceau. This work will be published in the Pompon monograph currently being prepared by Liliane Colas and Côme Rémy, to be published by Norma in October 2025. The certificate will be invoiced in addition to the bidding slip for €1,000 (incl. VAT) by the winning bidder. Provenance : -Sold to P. G. in 1933 in Paris for 3,000 F. -Collection of P. G., then his descendants. Bibliography : Chevillot, Colas, de Margerie, Pingeot, Catalogue Raisonné POMPON, Gallimard/Electa, RMN, p.207, n°107B.