Monument for Debussy

Believing that the female form embodies the essence of natural beauty, Aristide Maillol devoted himself almost exclusively to modeling single female figures when he began sculpting at around age 40 (see the two books featuring woodcuts by Maillol in this gallery). This sculpture exudes quiet dignity, serenity, and simplicity. A gentle rhythm of gracefully curving lines runs from the bowed head along the sloping back to the extended arms. This linearity contrasts with the weightiness of the woman’s rounded forms. Detail is kept to a minimum—the woman’s body can be broken down into a small number of compact geometric forms.

The figure was originally designed for a public memorial to the composer Claude Debussy (1862–1918). Maillol’s first Monument to Debussy, carved in white marble, was unveiled on July 9, 1930, at Debussy’s birthplace, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. Maillol subsequently made a plaster model of the monument from which six full-size bronzes were cast. This version is the first cast made, which Maillol kept for himself until 1932.