Helene Sardeau (Belgian/American 1899-1968). Two signed and dated 1928 bronze studies with foundry marks for Valsuani of Paris. One of the two cire-perdu bronze sculptures possibly depicts the African American dancer Joe Alex (The Giant) These two sculptures can also be used to form a pair of bookends. The artist Paul Colin (French 1892-1985) created the poster of Joe Alex with Josephine Baker (American 1906- 1975) for "Bal Negre", a spectacular event at The Theatre des Champs Elysees on the 11 th of Febuary 1927, attended by over 3,000 Parisians. In 1929 African American dancers were again celebrated in the set of hand colored lithographs by him, titled "Le Tumulte Noir ".From 1926 to 1929, Helene Sardeau had her own studio in Paris were she studied on her own for three years, so Joe Alex may well have posed for her. These sculptures were exhibited at the Salon d'Automne, Paris 1928. In 1931 Sardeau married the American artist George Biddle, moved to New York and studied under Mahonri Young (American 1877-1957). Sardeau's first major commission was "Slave" a six foot limestone manacled African American created for the sculpture garden in Fairmount Park Philadelphia.
Dimensions: Heights 9 inches and 8 &1/4 inches |
