188 - Othon COUBINE (1883–1969)

Othon COUBINE (1883–1969) Presumed portrait of Paul Claudel Created in 1931 Bronze with black patina Height 38 cm Width 29 cm Depth 18 cm Signed, dated, and numbered on the left: “Coubine 1931 1/5” Valsuani foundry stamp: “lost wax” Provenance: Former collection of Mr. Samuel Lendyk Private collection Acquired from the latter Othon Coubine and Paul Claudel met in 1942 when the painter created an original etching as the frontispiece for Paul Claudel’s 1942 book *La Rose et le Chèvrefeuille*, published by Pierre-André Benoit. It is likely that this bust by Coubine depicts the poet Paul Claudel; while we have not found any archival records to confirm this, the resemblance is striking. According to provenance records, this bust belonged to the printer Samuel Lendyk, who had collaborated with the poet Paul Claudel on several works.