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1970s Expansion n°55 by César
$83,411.60
£62,129.63
€70,000
CA$114,864.54
A$125,027.16
CHF 66,247.41
MX$1,503,640.73
NOK 842,318.99
SEK 771,892.16
DKK 533,353.65
About the Item
César (1921 - 1998)
‘‘Expansion n° 55’’, 1975
Resin, glass wool and acrylic lacquer 108 x 58 x 18 cm
Certificate from the Durand-Ruel archives
N° 2.198 (César archives)
César Baldaccini, commonly known as César, was a renowned French sculptor born in Marseille in 1921. He gained international acclaim for his innovative use of materials, notably in his «Compressions» and «Expansions» series. César’s work challenged traditional artistic norms, embracing chance and desacralizing the creative process. His artistic legacy continues to influence contemporary sculptors worldwide.
César’s experiments with innovative and unconventional materials was central to his artistic legacy. His «Expansions», a collection begun in the late 1960s, particularly showcased this capacity to harness unprecedented materials. These sculptures were the result of a chance discovery of a chemical process he discovered while experimenting with fingerprints.
A mix of polyurethane foam and freon was cast, causing a significant material expansion to occur, its shape growing and shifting in innumerable ways depending on the height and angle of the pour. Once the reaction was completed, the mixture would solidify, and César developed a technique to protect their surfaces which were delicate following solidification.
True to his innovative spirit, this technique employed new materials in revolutionary ways, using resin, glass wool and lacquer to cover and preserve the initial fragility.
During the 1960s, César would begin playing with these materials and processes, experimenting with ever larger proportions. His earlier «Compressions» on which order was necessarily imposed, the «Expansions» released this control, embracing entropy and chance. This departure echoed Duchamp with his Élevage de Poussière and Robert Smithson’s Asphalt Rundown, among others. This new creation challenged authority, rejecting monumental, triumphant forms to favor the desacralization of artistic creation. Despite wide criticism, César’s rise to fame was swift as the novelty and democratization of his creations inspired the collective imagination of his time.
- Creator:César Baldaccini (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 42.52 in (108 cm)Width: 22.84 in (58 cm)Depth: 7.09 in (18 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1975
- Condition:Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU893736797692
César Baldaccini
César Baldaccini was born to immigrant Italian parents in Marseille and his life span was from 1921–98. He was considered to be one of the most important French artists and sculptors of the 20th century. Much of his work involved the compression of junk material and automobile material. He became associated with the 1960s Paris based Nouveau réalisme movement. Most importantly, Baldaccini just had a major retrospective at the Pompidou Center in Paris. His work is very collectible and desirable.
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