2 - French school, follower of CHIPARUS; first quarter of the 20th century.

French school, follower of CHIPARUS; first quarter of the 20th century. “Dancer.” Patinated bronze with a marble base. Signed on the base. Measurements: 40 x 18 x 13 cm. This “Dancer” is part of the trend toward decorative sculpture with a theatrical character that became particularly widespread in France during the early decades of the 20th century, closely linked to the development of Art Deco. The piece reveals, in particular, the profound influence of the work of Demétre Chiparus (1886–1947), one of the sculptors who best knew how to transform the figure of the ballerina into one of the emblematic motifs of French sculpture between the two world wars. The composition centers on a female figure captured in a moment of suspended motion. The body, with its marked verticality and extraordinary balance, has hallmarks of sweep in the arms and complex drapery, creating a sense of lightness and dynamism. The stylized treatment of the anatomy, the elegance of the pose, and, especially, the theatrical nature of the costume all point to Chiparus’s visual universe and his fascination with dancers, the performing arts, and exotic cultures. One of the most characteristic aspects of the work is precisely her attire. The headdress, ornaments, and gilded drapery evoke an imagery with Egyptian and Orientalist overtones, very much in keeping with the aesthetic sensibilities of the 1920s and 1930s. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 played a decisive role in popularizing motifs inspired by ancient Egypt in the European decorative arts, although interest in Eastern and North African cultures had already been part of the Western artistic repertoire for decades prior.