CésarPoule à Limes
1981
Sculpture in bronze
Signed, Ed: 8 ex
41.73 x 24.02 x 47.64 in ( 106 x 61 x 121 cm )

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Inquiry - Poule à Limes, 1981

Born on January 1, 1921, in Marseille, César Baldaccini, better known simply as César, became one of the most influential figures in contemporary French art.
In 1943, he passed the entrance exam to the Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he received training that marked the beginning of his exceptional artistic career. During this period, he lived for a time above the studio of the famous sculptor Alberto Giacometti.
Between 1954 and 1956, César established himself as the undisputed master of metal sculpture. His works, characterized by the bold use of iron and steel, quickly attracted the attention of the public and critics alike. These years were marked by intense and innovative production, placing him at the heart of the Parisian art scene.
From 1957 to 1960, César reached artistic maturity and became a star of the Galerie Claude Bernard. During this period, he developed a fascination with wrecked car bodies, which he discovered by frequenting car cemeteries from 1958 onward. He even brought home compressed fragments of car bodies, displaying them as art objects, influenced by the organic forms of Art Nouveau.
On May 8, 1960, at the opening of the 16th Salon de Mai, César presented his first car body compressions, an innovation that immediately entered the history of art.
The 1970s were marked by César's experimentation with various materials. In 1969, he created "Dam" in glass, followed in 1971 by jewelry in gold and silver. In 1972, he explored Plexiglas and thermoformed molds, producing works like "Autoportrait". Towards the end of the decade, he returned to his first love, iron, which he reshaped and welded in bronze, once again demonstrating his ability to reinvent his art.
In the 1980s, César created monumental compositions that marked the pinnacle of his artistic career. "Le Centaure," a masterpiece of statuary, and "Hommage à Eiffel," a giant 17-meter-high plaque, illustrate the grandeur and innovation of his works.
César Baldaccini became an icon of contemporary French art. His influence endures, notably through the César Awards ceremony, where the best actors in cinema are honored with a compression by the artist. This tradition perpetuates his legacy and celebrates his creative genius.