Renowned for their imaginative Surrealist concepts that blend playful narratives with deeper, profound reflections, François-Xavier Lalanne's works are cherished for their ability to effortlessly merge natural animal and human forms anthropomorphically. The innovative compositions, filled with whimsical irreverence, provide playful commentaries on the human experience. While many of François-Xavier's creations, including those produced in collaboration with his wife Claude (known collectively as Les Lalanne), evoke a light-hearted tone, the present 'Fontaine Pleureuse' stands out as a poignant expression of emotion, offering a rare subject for the artist – a glimpse into the realm of melancholy.
A quintessential example of the husband-and-wife duo’s synergy in creative collaboration, here, François-Xavier has expanded on one of Claude’s existing designs, La Dormeuse. The copper sculpture of a sleeping woman’s head topped with a crown of botanical hair inspired François-Xavier to take on a more literal interpretation of the foliage with the integration of living ivy instead of cast vines, with the addition of flowing water to the eyes for tears to transform Claude’s sleeping figure into a weeping fountain. With characteristic astuteness as a skilled observer of the human condition and empowered by a talent for materially capturing its subtleties and nuances, Lalanne’s ‘Fontaine Pleureuse’ empathetically provides an environment for viewers to quietly contemplate and savour the bittersweetness of sorrow.
A picture of François-Xavier Lalanne and Claude Lalanne next to the 'Fontaine Pleureuse', 1995.
Image: © ADAGP Paris / DACS, London 2024A recurring theme within the repertoire of Les Lalanne, the present lot features an inclusion of natural elements to bring a quality of organic vitality to the piece. While inherently static in her stone format, the stoicism is softened by the integration of ivy onto the head as hair, and the gentle movement of water. These dynamic elements lend a nurturing quality to the inherent melancholy, providing the viewer with a comforting and contemplative presence, with the inclusion of ivy encouraging one to confront and accept the perpetual passage of time. Since the late 1970s, Lalanne had begun to play with the incorporation of vegetation into his outdoor sculptures to harmonise them into their intended settings. The use of proprietary epoxy stone, a mixture of stone aggregate and resin, is demonstrative of the Lalannes’ experimentation and ingenuity with material manipulation, showing a dedication to innovative creative process through a departure from traditional sculpting techniques.
This confidence in the employment of unprecedented fabrication techniques is very likely a fortunate byproduct of Lalanne's long-standing friendship and mentorship from the Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuși, who was well-known and admired for his own avant-garde methods for his sculptures. The two artists had studios next door to one another in Montparnasse during the last decade of Brâncuși's life, and both François-Xavier and Claude enjoyed a long and inspiring friendship with the older Romanian sculptor, who imparted a wealth of knowledge to the pair of younger artists. The serene visage of the 'Fontaine Pleureuse', with its minimalist features echoing the purity of Classical sculpture, pays homage to Lalanne's artistic lineage and the enduring legacy of Brâncuși's timeless aesthetic. Through his masterful manipulation of materials and profound exploration of human emotions, François-Xavier Lalanne's 'Fontaine Pleureuse' serves as a poignant meditation on the complex beauty of melancholy, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork on a deeply personal and introspective level.
Constantin Brâncuși, Sleeping Muse, 1910
Image: © Succession Brâncuși- All rights reserved. ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2024Provenance
Christian Fayt Art Gallery, Knokke
Acquired from the above by the present ownerLiterature
Les Lalanne, exh. cat., Christian Fayt Art Gallery, Knokke, 1984, p. 31
Daniel Marchesseau, Les Lalanne, Paris, 1998, p. 78 for the monumental version
Daniel Abadie, Lalanne(s), Paris, 2008, pp. 16-17, 338
Lalanne, exh. cat., David Benrimon Fine Art, New York, 2017, pp. 36-37, 68Catalogue Essay
Phillips wishes to thank Chelsea Physic Garden for hosting on-site outdoor photography for the present lot.
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'Fontaine Pleureuse'
designed 1983, executed 1985
Epoxy stone, brass.
85 x 86 x 111 cm (33 1/2 x 33 7/8 x 43 3/4 in.)
Number 8 from the edition of 8. One corner of base with metal plaque impressed fxl/85/8 / 8.
Estimate
£200,000 - 300,000 ‡♠
Antonia King
Head of Sale, Design
+44 20 7901 7944
Antonia.King@phillips.com
Design
London Auction 13 November 2024
