Jean René Gauguin

JEAN RENÉ GAUGUIN (Paris, 1881-Copenhagen,1961).
Vessel with lid, 1932.
Glazed ceramic.
Signed and dated on the base.
In good general condition according to the antique.
Measurements: 22 x 30 x 18 cm.

Singular ceramic vessel designed by Jean René Gauguin, in which functionality is subordinated to a clearly sculptural conception. The body presents a powerful horizontal ringed design that provides rhythm and architectural solidity, while the lid is crowned with a reclining female figure, modeled with a formal synthesis and expressiveness characteristic of the author. The ensemble evidences a balance between volume, gesture and function, representative of the renewal of the decorative arts in the 1930s.

The enameling, of rich chromatic complexity, combines dark tones with metallic shades and reflections in ranges of deep greens. This type of finish is associated with the technical research developed in Scandinavian ceramics at the time, in which Gauguin particularly excelled.

Jean René Gauguin, son of the painter Paul Gauguin, developed a solid career as a sculptor and ceramist, settling in Denmark where he collaborated with manufactures such as Bing & Grøndahl. His work is characterized by the synthesis between symbolist tradition and a modern language of simplified forms and great plastic force. He actively participated in the renewal of European decorative arts in the first third of the twentieth century, and his pieces are preserved in collections such as the Designmuseum Danmark.