Fruit, Large study with small arrangement on head (Le Fruit)

Fruit is a study in purity, almost a mirage, where apparent simplicity conceals great powers of invention. In this work, full of curves and counter-curves, Bourdelle reinterprets the ancient contrapposto scheme, taking it almost to breaking point. Its sinuosity conceals a very elaborate serpentine movement. The casually crossed feet and jointless torso have the look of a Tanagra figurine. The right arm creates a visual hiatus in this fluidity. The concealed left arm, meanwhile, is an invitation to turn this sculpture in the round. Holding apples reminiscent of Cézanne, this modern Eve has all the appearance of one of his Bathers. The simplified shapes and the structural distribution of the volumes also evoke Puvis de Chavannes's Hope (1871-1872). In addition, Fruit shows formal links with Serpentine (1909) by Matisse, who perfected his skills as a sculptor in Bourdelle's studio at the turn of the 20th century.

Colin Lemoine