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Ossip Zadkine
L’Architecte, 1943 by Ossip Zadkine (Vitebsk, Russian Empire 1890 - 1967 Paris)

1943

$52,718.32
£39,238.09
€44,000
CA$72,210.92
A$80,314.30
CHF 41,937.63
MX$977,339.62
NOK 535,607.56
SEK 502,305.40
DKK 334,956.64
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About the Item

Ossip Zadkine Vitebsk, Russian Empire 1890 - 1967 Paris Russian-French Artist 'L’Architecte, 1943' Medium: Bronze with black patina Edition: 6/6 Signature: monogrammed “OZ” on the base Dimensions: H31 x D24 x W17 cm Foundry mark: Tallix Art Foundry, New York Literature: S. Lecombre, Ossip Zadkine, L’œuvre sculpté, Paris, 1994, p. 386, no. 352 Ossip Zadkine’s style can be described as: Style: Cubism, with geometric simplification. Expressionist sculpture: Marked by expressive, emotional forms. Organic, lyrical abstraction: Developed a personal, sculptural language with elongated, stylized figures, balancing mass and void. Primitivist and archaic influences: Inspired by ancient and primitive art, visible in his simplified, spiritual forms. About the Sculpture: A significant example of Zadkine’s later work, L’Architecte embodies his artistic maturity and expressive sculptural language. This bronze sculpture, of which the present piece is number six in a limited edition of six (ed. 6/6), represents a powerful, vertical figure symbolizing the union between man and the creative spirit. It is both an homage to the builder and a testament to the human drive to create, capturing the tension between classical monumentality and modernist abstraction for which Zadkine is celebrated. L’Architecte stands as a meditation on resilience and the constructive force of humanity, aligning with the artist’s postwar reflections and his continuous dialogue between form, space, and emotion. This sculpture reflects the lyrical, organic quality of Zadkine’s style, while maintaining a commanding presence that makes it one of the most compelling pieces within his late oeuvre. Biography: Ossip Zadkine was born on July 14, 1890, in Vitebsk, then part of the Russian Empire (now Belarus). He grew up in a cosmopolitan environment: his father, of Scottish-Russian descent, was a professor of classical languages; his mother was Russian. This dual cultural heritage had a lasting influence on Zadkine’s artistic sensibility. In 1905, he left Russia and, after a brief stay in England, settled in Paris in 1909. There, he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts but quickly distanced himself from the academic tradition. Paris provided fertile ground for Zadkine to develop his unique style, in close contact with avant-garde figures such as Picasso, Modigliani, and Lipchitz. Around 1914, he created his first woodcuts and sculptures, initially in a Cubist idiom, though already marked by his own expressive rhythm. After volunteering for the French army in the First World War—an experience that left deep emotional scars—Zadkine’s work evolved into a more organic and lyrical sculptural language. His works from the 1920s and 1930s reflect a fascination with archaic forms, primitivism, and spiritual expression. Increasingly, his sculpture became a search for harmony between mass and movement, between form and void. He worked extensively in wood, stone, and bronze, often producing stylized, elongated figures—expressive, introspective, and frequently tormented. During the Second World War, Zadkine took refuge in the United States. After the war, he returned to Paris, establishing his studio on Rue d’Assas (now the Musée Zadkine). His most renowned work is undoubtedly La Ville détruite (1951–1953), a monumental sculpture commemorating the 1940 bombing of Rotterdam. The piece marks a pinnacle in his expressive style: a dramatic, open-mouthed figure that evokes destruction, grief, and human suffering. Zadkine taught at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and became a respected figure in the postwar Parisian art scene. He was married to the French Cubist painter Valentine Prax, whose own artistic career unfolded in parallel with his. He remained active until his death on November 25, 1967. His artistic legacy is housed in numerous museums across Europe, including the Musée Zadkine in Paris and Museum Beelden aan Zee in the Netherlands.
  • Creator:
  • Creation Year:
    1943
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.21 in (31 cm)Width: 6.7 in (17 cm)Depth: 9.45 in (24 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    L’Architecte presents in superb condition, with its original patina beautifully preserved. The work is ready for immediate display in a private collection or institutional setting, requiring no conservation intervention.
  • Gallery Location:
    Knokke, BE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2006216691662

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