François Pompon: Sculptor Who Loved Animals

This is the catalog for François Pompon's first large-scale retrospective exhibition in Japan. It introduces the full scope of the work of sculptor François Pompon, who created innovative animal sculptures in France in the first half of the 20th century.

Having gained experience as Rodin's under-sculptor, Pompon boldly simplified forms based on his observations of animals, establishing a unique sculptural expression that combined vitality and refinement. In addition to his masterpieces such as "Polar Bear," the book includes other animal sculptures like "Brown Bear," "Boar," and "Elk," as well as early human sculptures, plaster prototypes, drawings, and materials, all with abundant illustrations.

Published in conjunction with Pompon's first retrospective exhibition in Japan, which toured the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, the Nagoya City Art Museum, and the Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi from 2021 to 2022. In addition to explanations of the works and essays, it also introduces atelier materials and personal effects, allowing readers to experience the charm of Pompon's art, born from his deep observation and love for animals.

[Title] François Pompon Exhibition: The Sculptor Who Loved Animals
[Publisher] Art & Design Research Institute
[Publication Date] 2021
[Page Count] 108 pages
[Size] Approx. 211*200*9mm / 410g
[Format] Softcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] FURANSOWA PONPONTEN DOBUTSU WO AISHITA CHOKOKUKA
[Author/Editor] Miki Imai (Osaka Institute of Technology) / Editor, Katsunori Fukaya (Nagoya City Art Museum) / Editor, Yukiko Mihara (Art & Design Research Institute) / Editor
[Printing] KOSOKU OFFSET / Printing
[ISBN] None
[Condition] Used [5] Good (Slight crease on spine, slight tanning on top edge)
[Accessories] None
[Featured In] -
[Related Exhibition] François Pompon Exhibition: The Sculptor Who Loved Animals

Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
July 10 – September 5, 2021

Nagoya City Art Museum
September 18 – November 14, 2021

Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi
November 23, 2021 – January 26, 2022

François Pompon (1855-1933)

Born in Saulieu, Burgundy, France. Sculptor.

He began working as a stonemason at a young age and later studied sculpture in Paris. He honed his skills while working as an assistant in the studios of Auguste Rodin and René de Saint-Marceaux.

From the 1900s onwards, he dedicated himself to animal sculpture. He established his unique style, simplifying forms based on thorough observation, and gained international recognition with "Polar Bear," which was exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in 1922.

His works, which expressed the volume and movement of animals with minimal forms, showed a new direction for modern sculpture and greatly influenced Art Deco art.

His representative works include "Polar Bear," "Brown Bear," "Boar," "Elk," "Dove," and "Flamingo."

Major collections include the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, the François Pompon Museum, and the Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi.

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Auguste Rodin, Antoine-Louis Barye, Rembrandt Bugatti, Aristide Maillol