HENRI LAURENS

18 February 1885 - 5 May 1954, Paris, France

He started his career as a scene-painter.

As a sculptor, he began with realistic work under the influence of Rodin.

In 1911 he met Braque and threw in his lot with Cubism, becoming one of the most important sculptors of the movement.

He adapted the principles of Cubism paintings and collages to his own art, particularly in a series of bas-reliefs of geometrical composition, most of which were still-lifes.

From 1930 a tendency to humanization enter in his work and the female figure playing a predominant part.

In 1937, his monumental group, L'eau, was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

He was an excellent draughtsman and an important part of his work consists of illustrations.

In 1954 he won the prize for sculpture at the São Paulo Biennale, in Brazil.

Like Picasso and Braque, he gave a new life to Greek mythology by the choice of his themes, both in sculpture and in his illustrative work.

Portrait painted by Amadeo Modigliani, 1915

"Head of a woman", painted wood and sheet metal, 1916

"Métamorphose", 1940

"Grande musicienne", Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, 1937

"Femme à l'oiseau"

"Tête de jeune fille"

"Femme au miroir"

"Femme accroupie"

"The hair"

Drawing at the atelier, photo by Brassai, 1946