Belgian school, probably Liège region — Young woman with a donkey, partially glazed terracotta group, monogrammed "JC", ca 1970-1980.
Perfect condition.
Dimensions: 50 x 35 x 21 cm.
Weight: 12 kg.
This terracotta sculpture, partially glazed or patinated in brown and ochre tones, depicts a young woman accompanied by a donkey. The group is entirely hand-modeled in a deliberately raw material, whose irregularities, imprints, and surface imperfections fully contribute to the expression of the work.
The simplified treatment of faces and anatomies, combined with the elongated forms and the vigor of the modeling, allows us to place this creation probably in the 1970s or 1980s. The subject, both familiar and poetic, is distinguished by its originality: the silent relationship between the young woman and the animal evokes closeness, trust and a form of rural tenderness.
Through its origin and its artistic language, this work can be linked to the Liège school of sculpture, which was particularly active in the field of expressive figuration during this period. It shares certain affinities with the world of Mady Andrien, notably in its focus on simple gestures, emotional connections, and scenes of everyday life. Mady Andrien worked extensively with terracotta, bronze, and other materials, developing a refined figurative sculpture centered on tenderness, friendship, and human relationships.
The more spontaneous and almost naive nature of the modeling may also evoke the work of Louise Tournay, known as Loulou, a Liège artist associated with Art Brut. She created numerous small terracotta figures, sometimes painted, representing people and animals observed in her surroundings. She also attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liège, where she notably studied under Mady Andrien.
This sculpture cannot, however, be definitively attributed to either Mady Andrien or Louise Tournay. It seems rather to reflect the same artistic climate in Liège, at the crossroads of figurative sculpture, expressive ceramics, and folk art. Its quality lies less in a pursuit of anatomical perfection than in the accuracy of the pose, the balance of the composition, and the strong emotional presence of the group.
The monogram "JC", affixed to the ground, remains to be identified. Pending comparison with an authenticated signature, the work can be presented as a creation of the Liège school, ca 1970-1980, in the stylistic circle of Mady Andrien and Louise Tournay.
- Signature / Monogram:Signed.
- Period:20th century / 1960 to 1980.
- Country of Origin:Belgium.
- Dimensions (H x W x D):50 x 35 x 21 cm.
- Weight:12 Kg.
- Number of components:1.
- Condition:Excellent.
- Style:Art brut / Expressionism.
- Material:Ceramic / Mineral / Terracotta.
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Price:1150 €