Joseph Bernard (1866-1931) - Embracing the waves

Beautiful inkwell in bronze with a strongly shaded brown patina
Sand cast
Signed "Bernard" on the naturalistic terrace front.
Published by "Arnould Ed" - Publisher's mark on back in cursive script

Circa 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.
Stoneware inkwell signed A. Bigot, greenish-beige speckled with brown. Only one known to date. Collaboration between Joseph Bernard and 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. At the age of 12, he left school and took his first steps in sculpture on his father's building sites with his brother Louis, acquiring a good knowledge of marble and stone.

In 1881, at the age of 15, he obtained a scholarship from the city to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, where he graduated with a very high standard. In 1887, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied in Jules Cavelier's studio.

He also enrolled in the painting classes of Jules Lefèbvre and Gustave Boulanger.
During this period, he acquired a classical training in working from live models and plaster casts, nourished by the drawing he practiced, to the detriment of clay modeling.

But this classical and somewhat rigid training did not meet the young sculptor's expectations, and he took sculpture classes with Henri-Charles Maniglier.

Despite this, he was influenced by Auguste Rodin, and in 1891 presented "L'espoir Vaincu" (Defeated Hope) at the Salon, reminiscent of Rodin's thinker.
He made his debut at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1892;

Sculpture did not allow him to earn a decent living, and he struggled to make a living. Highly independent, he turned down positions as a practitioner and worked nights in a print shop until 1911.

In 1900, he moved to the Cité Falguière in Paris (an artists' housing estate), and it was during these years, between 1905 and 1913, that Joseph Bernard created most of his sculptural work.

In 1905, he returned to direct carving with "L'effort vers la nature".

Around 1907-1910, he collaborated with the Adrien Hébrard foundry, which published his bronze sculptures and exhibited them, helping to spread his work.

He exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Automne between 1910 and 1930.

In 1921, he moved his studio permanently to Boulogne Billancourt. The 1920s marked the beginning of his success. He was considered the equal of such contemporaries as Antoine Bourdelle and Aristide Maillol.

He regularly took part in the "La Douce France" exhibitions organized by Emmanuel de Thubert to promote direct carving.

In 1930, he gave classes at La Grande Chaumière.

He died on January 7, 1931.