FRANCOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (FRENCH 1927-2008)

FRANCOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (FRENCH 1927-2008)
Ulysse
1978
signed, dated and numbered 73/76 in pencil
lithograph in colours on Arches wove
published by La Hune, Paris
sheet 65.5 x 50.2cm
unframed
ARR

Note:

Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008) is most known for his sculptures, many of his works are characterised by the fact they are both highly functional, while simultaneously using animal imagery. Exemplified via a variety of animals from donkeys, monkeys, rhinos, most famously his sheep sculptures, which can be used a seats. The space between the surreal and realistic can be found within his prints in addition to his sculptures.

Prints such as his, Le Brochet, uses the recognisable image of a fish. This particularly fish is used in much of Lalanne’s oeuvre, not only in multiple versions of these prints on a variety of coloured woven papers, but additionally in his ‘Brochet’. Rather than a print his sculpture, ‘Brochet’ is in this case also an edition, used as a functioning object with a mixture of painted copper, cherrywood and brass, all of which encompasses the image of the fish, in addition to drawers. The way in which Lalanne transforms the carnivorous freshwater fish into a beautifully rendered etching in one case and a functioning object truly captures the mastery of Lalanne.

The collection of prints from Lalanne in this sale effectively captures the artists fascination with animals and their relationship to the world in a somewhat magical realist way.

The prominent collection demonstrate Lalanne’s climb to the highest of hights. It is clear that much of his work was desired by many prestigious collections from the Rothschild family, to Yves Saint Laurent. His artwork occupies the space between the real and the imagined, the functioning and the surreal.

Provenance
From the Gallerie Mazarine, Paris, Monna Besse collection, thence by decent