Joseph Bernard (1866-1931) - "embrace On The Waves"

“Embrace on the waves” Very beautiful bronze inkwell with strongly nuanced brown patina Sand cast Signed on the naturalist terrace facade “Bernard” Published by “Arnould Ed” – Publisher's mark on the back in cursive writingCirca 1890-1900 Height : 9 cm Width: 24.5 cm – Depth: 19 cm Bibliography: René Julian – Joseph Bernard – Fondation de Coubertin, Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuses, 1989, n°16 page 271. Sandstone inkwell signed A. Bigot, greenish beige speckled with brown. Only one copy known to date. Collaboration of Joseph Bernard and the ceramist Alexandre Bigot. n° 17, page 271. Biography: Joseph BERNARD (1866-1931) Born in Vienne (Isère), Joseph Bernard was the son of a modest stonemason and at the age of 12, he left school and took his first steps in sculpture on his father's construction sites with his brother Louis and thus acquired a good knowledge of marble and stone. In 1881, he was 15 years old and obtained a scholarship from the city to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon where he graduated with a very good level and entered, in 1887, the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied in the workshop of Jules Cavelier. He also enrolled in painting classes with Jules Lefèbvre and Gustave Boulanger. During this period, he acquired classical training based on live models and plasters, nourished by the drawing he practiced, to the detriment of clay modeling. But this classical and somewhat rigid teaching did not correspond to the expectations of this young sculptor and he followed the sculpture classes of Henri-Charles Maniglier. Despite everything, he came under the influence of Auguste Rodin and presented at the Salon in 1891 “L'heure Vaincu” which is reminiscent of Rodin's thinker. He began at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1892; Sculpture does not allow him to earn a decent living and it is difficult to earn a living. Very independent, he refused positions as a practitioner and worked nights in a printing house until 1911. In 1900, he moved to the Falguière city in Paris (city of artists), and, it was during these years, between 1905 and 1913, Joseph Bernard created most of his sculpted work. In 1905, he returned to direct carving by sculpting “The Effort towards Nature”. Around 1907-1910, he collaborated with the Adrien Hébrard foundry which published his bronze sculptures and exhibited him, thus participating in the dissemination of his work. He exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Automne between 1910 and 1930. In 1921, he permanently set up his workshop in Boulogne Billancourt. The 1920s marked the beginning of its success. He is considered the equal of some of his contemporaries such as Antoine Bourdelle and Aristide Maillol. He regularly participates in the “La Douce France” exhibitions organized by Emmanuel de Thubert to promote direct cutting. In 1930, he gave lessons at the Grande Chaumière. He died on January 7, 1931.