Le Travail, Victor Rousseau, Early 20th-Century, Bronze

Description

Bronze entitled "Work", signed in two places by the sculptor Victor Rousseau (1865 - 1954). Of Belgian origin, he carved … more Bronze entitled "Work", signed in two places by the sculptor Victor Rousseau (1865 - 1954). Of Belgian origin, he carved stones from an early age and then participated in the construction of the colossal Palace of Justice in Brussels. Through his various travels, Rousseau was inspired by the art nouveau in France, Greek in England, and the renaissance style in Italy.
This sculpture depicts a blacksmith, with a confident look, and a large head of hair and a beard. He is lightly dressed, with a thick drape tied behind his back, revealing an obviously muscular body, highlighted by a golden patina. The man's left hand is resting on his hip, while his right hand holds the handle of an imposing hammer, itself resting on an anvil. Last of the craftsman's legs is a wheel with notches, and at his feet are pliers.
A plaque bearing the name of the work and its author is affixed to the terrace of this bronze, and Rousseau's signature is also present on one side.
The piece rests on a square base of sea-green marble with chamfers.
The artist nicknamed "the sculptor of souls" offers us here a tribute to the hard work and manual labor that certainly contributed to making this blacksmith a man of assertive virility.

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Period : Early XXth century

Weight : 5.2 kgs This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution less