FRANCOIS POMPON (1855-1933): Receiving encouragement from Rodin, Francois Pompon (May 9, 1855 – May 6, 1933) sculpted animal statues such as the Polar Bear statue first displayed at the 1922 Salon d’Automne (Musee d’Orsay in Paris). The lumbering strength of the bear’s movement conveys its form, mass, and dimensionality suggestive of Rodin’s influence on Pompon.
Pompon studied the gait and expression of polar bears but simplified their form by smoothing the lines of the animal’s shape. The bear is curious and lumbering, but simplified in a universal style that creates an iconic vision of the essence of a polar bear. His most recognized statue is in the central gallery of the Musee d’Orsay.
We see this same iconic simplification by Pompon in his portraits of owls. Pompon’s Owl turns his head to survey his territory. Pompon conveys the Owl’s form, mass, and dimensionality in a unique way with smooth, fleshy roundness. His sculpture has a simplified sophistication that would become characteristic of modern sculpture in the early 20th century.
Parastone Mouseion 3D has created an impressive collection of Pompon Animals as small scale affordable collectibles. Talaria Enterprises sells the Pompon replicas created by Parastone of The Netherlands.
