123 - César BALDACCINI, known as CÉSAR (1921–1998)

César BALDACCINI, known as CÉSAR (1921–1998) Compression portrait of Air France airline tickets Pencil and collage on paper, signed lower right In a Plexiglas frame. Height: 178 cm; Width: 148.5 cm; Depth: 8.5 cm (frame) César Baldaccini, known as César, rose to prominence in the early 1950s thanks to his assemblages of industrial waste, which established him as one of the leading figures of New Realism, alongside Arman, Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, Daniel Spoerri, Raymond Hains, and Jacques Villeglé. Throughout his career, the artist explored the possibilities of transforming materials through various experiments: welded metal, compression, expansion, imprinting, and wrapping. He also remains famous among the general public for having created the French Film Award trophy. In 1960, the discovery of an industrial hydraulic press marked a decisive turning point in his work. César used it to compress automobiles and everyday consumer objects, giving rise to a new sculptural language. That same year, at the Salon de Mai, he presented three compressed cars—a work that caused a scandal under the title “Trois Tonnes.” Created in the 1980s, our “Portrait de Compression” made from Air France airline tickets reflects the continuation of this exploration of materials derived from consumer society. By flattening and layering these printed documents, César transforms an ephemeral everyday object into an abstract composition, straddling the boundary between sculpture, bas-relief, and painting. This work illustrates the renewal of his visual vocabulary and his interest in the artistic transformation of manufactured objects. Provenance: - Acquired directly from the artist by the current owner. We thank Ms. Stéphanie Busuttil-Janssen, president of the César Foundation, for confirming the authenticity of this work. This “compression portrait” is cataloged in the Denyse Durand-Ruel Archives under number 8182.