Pierre Traverse (1892-1979) - "the Offering"

A very fine bronze sculpture with a silver patina. Signed "Pierre Traverse" on the base to the right. Sand cast during the artist's lifetime by Alexis Rudier. Bears the foundry mark: "A. Rudier Fondeur Paris" on the plinth at the back. Circa 1930. Dimensions: Height: 31 cm, Width: 16 cm, Depth: 10 cm. The Offering. An exceptional bronze sculpture with a silver patina depicting a young, nude woman standing gracefully emerging from two monumental hands that seem to present her to the world or offer her as a symbolic sacrifice. The female figure, with its pure lines characteristic of Art Deco aesthetics, adopts a hieratic pose: one hand resting on her hair while the other makes a gesture of elevation. The contrast in scale between the delicacy of the female nude and the power of the supporting hands lends the work a powerful allegorical and poetic dimension. The exceptional quality of the casting, produced by the Alexis Rudier Foundry, underscores the vibrant modeling and anatomical precision so characteristic of Pierre Traverse, a student of Injalbert and an admirer of Rodin. Galerie Paris Manaus BIOGRAPHY: Pierre Traverse was born on April 1, 1892, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac (Gironde). His beginnings were slow, interrupted by the tragic events of 1914. His father had sent him to Limoges, entrusting his training to an elderly sculptor, Philippon, the only master, according to the young artist, who taught him anything. In 1910, Traverse came to Paris and spent a year in Injalbert's studio at the École des Beaux-Arts. His first work, exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français, was a group sculpture, Les Présents de la Terre (The Gifts of the Earth), which immediately brought him to the attention of the public. He was already a master of his art. There was no hesitation in his work. The Family, like Man, like the Bathers, is in perfect harmony. At no point did Traverse succumb to the allure of theories. No visible, aggressive distortions, no concessions to the avant-garde, nor to a backward academicism. His art is wholesome, frank, and honest, outside of any particular school of thought… Traverse is one of the rare artists who tackles direct carving. A student of Injalbert, a disciple of Bourdelle and Joseph Bernard, he claims to be part of the great classical tradition. He exhibited in numerous Salons, notably the Salon des Artistes Français, the Salon d'Automne, and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs. A worthy representative of direct stone carving, he won the first gold medal at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1926, and the Blumenthal prize in 1932. His best-known work from this period is his Man, created in 1937 for the gardens of the Palais de Chaillot.