Assignment: Image seminar 2 - Image description 

Mia Hunjadi

2022 HT/Autmn

KOVN07

Image analysis
L'éveil
by André Gustave Beaudin

The work chosen for analysis includes a model for a bronze sculpture. The plaster sculpture
was made in 1937.1 By painter and sculptor André Beaudin, a highly prolific representative
of Ecole de Paris, the sculpture bears the name L'éveil, which translates into English as The
Awakening. What kind of awakening the artist was referring to will be analyzed throughout
this assignment. The sculpture is currently a part of the permanent collection on display in
the Skissernas museum in Lund.

1
Due to the scarcity of written material on the artist's work, it is impossible to corroborate the
exact methodology he used for casting this plaster mold, but considering his affiliations with
the Ecole de Paris and schooling at the School of Decorative Arts, it is safe to assume that he
used a small model in clay or wax, a bozetto or maquette when making the plaster cast.
(Hanina Fine Arts. André Beaudin. http://www.haninafinearts.com/artists/andre_beaudin/biography (Accessed
2022-09-10))
The image presents an abstract female figure in a sitting position. The figure seems to be
positioned on a kind of furniture piece resembling an armchair, but her sitting position is off-
center. Her posterior is placed on the right side of the armchair. The figure is shown with the
head in profile turned to the right, the elongated neck and torso shown frontally, and the
posterior in profile. The legs are shown frontally, although it could be argued that the legs are
also shown in profile, which is evidenced by the existence of a third relief projection that
seems to show the left leg in profile together with the centrally shown left leg, visibly pulled
behind the rightmost one, but which leaves the impression of dual display of frontality and
profile at the same time.

The sculpture was processed only frontally, which leads to the conclusion that, if possible, it
should have been displayed with its back to the wall. But looking at the sculpture from the
back, you can notice an interesting form that differs from the one shown frontally.
Looking at the sculpture from behind, the contours give the impression of a simple sitting
figure. There is no indication of an armchair like when I look at the front view, and the form
itself seems completely different. The figure looks like it is sitting in a Turkish-style sitting
position, with a pronounced leaning to the left side, which is also visible in the (imaginary)
diagonal line that can be traced from the left shoulder to the right knee.
The figure observes something happening to her on the left, and the position of her body
confirms this. It is also visible from behind that the head is positioned with a side view, and
the semi-curved torso follows the view and leans to the left, with the left shoulder thrown out
behind and the right pulled forward as if it is helping itself to turn with its hands to get a
better view.

Beaudin shaped the sculpture by playing with lines and curves, and by applying high and
shallow relief, which contributes to shaping the position of the body and depth. The depth of
this sculpture affects the relationship between light and shadow, which could be attributed to
the artist's painting work that precedes his work as a sculptor.
When I first saw the sculpture, I immediately thought of prehistoric Venuses and the worship
of the Magna Mater cult. That was what I was reminded of by this treatment of an abstract
female figure with a significant emphasis on female attributes attributed to signs of fertility.
Further researching the author and his other works, both sculptural and painterly, I saw his
fascination with discovering the female figure through the creation of "Matisse-influenced
rhythmical compositions"2.
Regarding the name of the work, it is possible that it alludes to the awakening of female
sexuality that takes place through bodily changes during puberty, and if we delve even
further, it could be said that the work could also be called Spring, considering the awakening
of nature's fertility that takes place during that time.

Images
2
David Barnett Gallery. ANDRE BEAUDIN. 2022. https://davidbarnettgallery.com/artist/andre-beaudin
(Accessed 2022-09-14).
I have included an image of a bronze sculpture cast from the plaster model which scored
quite a higher price at a 2008 June auction, the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, at
Christie’s than it was expected.3

DETAILS4
André Beaudin (French, 1895-1980) 
L'éveil 
signed with the initials, numbered and inscribed with the foundry mark 'AB 2/6 B.Rubecchi'
(on the back)
bronze with gold patina 
Height: 19 1/8 in. (48.5 cm.) 

Bibliography

3
The estimate price was valued at GBP 7,000, but in auction it was sold for GBP 15,000 which marks
L'éveil the most expensive artwork sold at auction by Beaudin. (Art.Salon. André Beaudin: L'éveil. Art Salon
GmbH. (https://www.art.salon/artwork/andre-beaudin_leveil_AID715619) (Accessed 2022-09-12).)

4
Christie’s. 2008. Live auction 7600: Impressionist and modern art day sale. Christie’s.
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5092945 (Accessed 2022-09-10).
Christie’s. 2008. Live auction 7600: Impressionist and modern art day sale. Christie’s.
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5092945 (Accessed 2022-09-10).

David Barnett Gallery. ANDRE BEAUDIN. 2022.

https://davidbarnettgallery.com/artist/andre-beaudin (Accessed 2022-09-14).

Hanina Fine Arts. André Beaudin.

http://www.haninafinearts.com/artists/andre_beaudin/biography (Accessed 2022-09-10)