Marcel André Bouraine

MARCEL ANDRÉ BOURAINE, "MATTO" (France, 1886 - 1948).
"Ballerina".
In bronze.
Signed on the base "Matto".
Granite base.
Measurements: 38,5 cm (height); 46,5 cm (height with pedestal).

Art Deco sculpture signed with pseudonym by the famous French sculptor Marcel-André Bouraine. It combines a classical inspiration (the female figure, the tunic reminiscent of a Greek chiton) with a modern sensibility. The figure is captured in the middle of an energetic and rhythmic dance. The dancer balances on the tip of her right foot while raising her left knee at an acute angle. The arms are raised and the hands are open, adding expressiveness and balance to the pose.

Marcel Bouraine trained with J.A.J. Falguiere, who had reintroduced and emphasized realism in nineteenth-century French sculpture. Captured in Germany during World War I and imprisoned in Switzerland, after the war he resumed his artistic activity and held an exhibition in 1922 in Paris, at the Salon des Tuileries. The following year he began his participation in the Salon d'Automne. He also exhibited frequently with the groups La Stele and L'Evolution. He made small format figures for several French firms, among them Le Verrier, Susse Freer and Arthur Goldscheider. Among his most important pieces are those made for the Paris International Exhibition of 1937. Occasionally he signed with the pseudonyms "Briand" and "Derenne". It is represented at the Art Institue of Chicago and the Corning Museum of Glass (New York), among others, as well as in various private collections.

The signature "Matto" is a well-known, though less common, pseudonym of the famous French sculptor Marcel-André Bouraine (1886-1948). Bouraine was a very prominent figure in the Art Deco movement in Paris and is highly prized by collectors.

The use of this pseudonym (he sometimes also signed as "Philippe Matteau") adds an element of interest to the piece. Bouraine studied with masters such as Joseph Falguière and was known for his ability to capture movement and form in bronze and sometimes ivory (in the famous "chrysoelephantine" statues).

???? The Sculpture: Art Deco Ballerina

This sculpture, at 39 cm high, is a bronze statuette designed to be a luxury decorative object, typical of the sophisticated interiors of the 1920s and 1930s.

Stylistic and Thematic Description:

Art Deco style: the piece is a perfect synthesis of this style. It combines a classical inspiration (the female figure, the tunic reminiscent of a Greek chiton) with a modern sensibility.
Dynamism and Movement: The figure is not at rest; it is captured in the middle of an energetic and rhythmic dance. The composition is based on a dynamic diagonal: the dancer balances on the tip of her right foot while raising her left knee at an acute angle. The arms are raised and the hands are open, adding expressiveness and balance to the pose.
Form and Treatment: Unlike academic realism, Art Deco stylizes the form. The body is elegant and the lines are fluid and clean. The treatment of the drapery is especially notable: the tunic swirls and clings to the body, emphasizing movement and the underlying female form. The updo is also a modern stylization of a classic chignon.
Material and Base: The bronze has a warm brown patina that highlights the volumes of the sculpture. The base is a key element: a massive geometric cube of veined granite. This contrast between the organic, fluid form of the dancer and the pure, heavy geometry of the base is an unmistakable hallmark of Art Deco design.