Léon INDENBAUM. (1890–1981)
Léon INDENBAUM. (1890–1981)
"Portrait of a Woman"
Bronze with black patina.
Signed on the neck on the right side.
No foundry mark.
H: 34 cm (without base)
We would like to thank Mr. Goiran, the artist’s heir, who kindly confirmed the authenticity of the work and provided us with valuable information.
Related work:
A marble sculpture (1929) depicting the same mask, possibly commissioned by Jacques Doucet.
Born in Russia into a Jewish family, he moved to Paris, the artistic capital of Europe, in 1911, and settled at La Ruche on Passage Dantzig, a breeding ground for young artists of the future “École de Paris”: Soutine, Krémègne, Chagall, Modigliani, Kikoïne, Zadkine… He worked with the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle between 1914 and 1920, from whom he adopted archaic-style simplifications. He was noticed by the collector Jacques Doucet, who commissioned a large sculpture from him for his private home. In 1915, he created a “cubist” portrait of Foujita. Soutine, the sculptor Chana Orloff, Rembrandt Bugatti, and Jeanne Hébuterne, Modigliani’s partner, would also serve as his models. He also worked for a time for Marcel Coard, an architect and interior designer who was emblematic of Art Deco.
Our sculpture was likely created around 1919–1929, a period during which he was employed almost exclusively by the fashion designer Jacques Doucet.
This bronze sculpture draws on the tradition of the portrait-mask, a tradition revived by the Symbolists in the late 19th century and brilliantly carried forward by Rodin and Bourdelle. Here, the mask becomes a means of expressing a mysterious presence, an inner world, or even a spiritual power, rather than a mere likeness.
Experts: Frédérick and Pauline CHANOIT
Léon INDENBAUM. (1890–1981)
"Portrait of a Woman"
Bronze with black patina.
Signed on the neck on the right side.
No foundry mark.
H: 34 cm (without base)
We would like to thank Mr. Goiran, the artist’s heir, who kindly confirmed the authenticity of the work and provided us with valuable information.
Related work:
A marble sculpture (1929) depicting the same mask, possibly commissioned by Jacques Doucet.
Born in Russia into a Jewish family, he moved to Paris, the artistic capital of Europe, in 1911, and settled at La Ruche on Passage Dantzig, a breeding ground for young artists of the future “École de Paris”: Soutine, Krémègne, Chagall, Modigliani, Kikoïne, Zadkine… He worked with the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle between 1914 and 1920, from whom he adopted archaic-style simplifications. He was noticed by the collector Jacques Doucet, who commissioned a large sculpture from him for his private home. In 1915, he created a “cubist” portrait of Foujita. Soutine, the sculptor Chana Orloff, Rembrandt Bugatti, and Jeanne Hébuterne, Modigliani’s partner, would also serve as his models. He also worked for a time for Marcel Coard, an architect and interior designer who was emblematic of Art Deco.
Our sculpture was likely created around 1919–1929, a period during which he was employed almost exclusively by the fashion designer Jacques Doucet.
This bronze sculpture draws on the tradition of the portrait-mask, a tradition revived by the Symbolists in the late 19th century and brilliantly carried forward by Rodin and Bourdelle. Here, the mask becomes a means of expressing a mysterious presence, an inner world, or even a spiritual power, rather than a mere likeness.
Experts: Frédérick and Pauline CHANOIT
