Antoine Bourdelle holding a cat

This photograph shows Bourdelle in a loose-fitting suit, its whiteness contrasting with the almost gloomy darkness of the studio. At the height of his fame, and keen to display marks of distinction, Bourdelle chose this “most personal” suit in the 1920s, which was much commented upon. With his white beard and a cat gently cradled in his arms, Bourdelle certainly comes across as a respectable, approachable man. But the image has a double meaning. With his eyes raised to the heavens and dispelling the surrounding darkness, Bourdelle is depicted here more than a master: he is a magician.

Colin Lemoine