Jef Lambeaux

JEF LAMBEAUX (Antwerp, Belgium, 1852 - Brussels, 1908).
"Le baiser".
Black patinated bronze.
Signed.
Foundry V. Stevens, Brussels.
Measurements: 56,5 cm high.

Sculptural composition of intense sensuality and great dynamism, centered on the physical encounter between two intertwined bodies. The masculine figure holds the woman in an enveloping movement, almost suspended, while both faces approach in the instant of the kiss. The diagonal marked by the female body and the muscular tension of the figures give the piece a strong sense of momentum and theatricality.

The work reflects Lambeaux's taste for vigorous, expressive sculpture with a markedly carnal character. The black patinated bronze enhances the volumes, the shiny surface and the anatomical fluidity of the bodies, reinforcing the contrast between strength and sensuality. The quality of the casting, made by V. Stevens in Brussels, adds technical and documentary interest to the piece.

Jef Lambeaux trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and was one of the most outstanding Belgian sculptors of the late 19th century. After a stay in Paris and a trip to Italy, where he admired the sculpture of Giambologna, he accentuated the effects of movement and bodily energy in his language. Among his most famous works are "Le baiser" - considered one of his masterpieces - the Brabo Fountain in Antwerp and the monumental relief "The Human Passions" in Brussels. His production is represented in institutions such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Liège, the Museum of Fine Arts in Leuven and the Museum Folkwang in Essen.