Maurice Guiraud-Rivière

MAURICE GUIRAUD-RIVIÈRE (France, 1881-1947).
"Boxer".
Patinated bronze on marble base.
Signed.
Measurements: 56 x 42 x 22 cm.

Sculptures like the one now on auction, which acquire notable importance and interest because they faithfully represent the values of modernity and the advance of Art Deco in Europe, had a great representation in the early twentieth century, a time when boxing symbolized values such as masculinity, social advancement, discipline, courage and physical endurance. Maurice Guiraud-Rivière, considered one of the great specialists in this type of sculptures with a sports theme and dynamic human figure, closely linked to the Art Deco taste of the time, stood out in this context.

"Boxer" is, therefore, a significant work within Guiraud-Rivière's production as it condenses and exemplifies the modern fascination with sport, which during the Art Deco era ceased to be understood solely as aristocratic entertainment to become a symbol of the essential values of modernity: energy, discipline, dynamism, health, competitiveness and physical beauty. France was one of the great epicenters of this phenomenon, and art immediately incorporated this new exaltation of the body and movement.

Maurice Guiraud-Rivière was a sculptor of the Art Deco movement, well known for his athletic and elegant figures in bronze; among his most famous works he made sculptures of boxers and athletes, including representations of the champion Georges Carpentier and other pieces inspired by the Olympic world, characterized by physical strength, dynamism and the refined lines typical of the Art Deco style. The sculpture we are now bidding for is a clear example of his prolific production.