Offered by Galerie Paris Manaus
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Decorative Arts of the 20th century
Belgian School
Very fine bronze cast with richly nuanced brown patina
Sand casting
National Bronze Foundry – Jacques Petermann, Saint-Gilles, Brussels (Belgium)
Foundry stamp on the base at the rear
Signed “A. Hager” and dated 1927 on the naturalistic terrace at the back (under the tail)
Dimensions:
Height: 33 cm
Length: 73 cm
Width: 22.5 cm
Biography:
Albert Hager, of German origin (born in Frankfurt), became Belgian after settling with his sister in Uccle, near Brussels.
He studied at the Saint-Gilles Academy under the painter Alfred Cluysenaar, where he became a professor in 1893 and later director in 1918.
Hager was a purebred animal sculptor. Only a few human figures by his hand are known. He showed a particular preference for tropical animals, which he likely observed at the Antwerp Zoo. He was primarily interested in their movements and activities. His sculptures are characterized by dramatic realism.
In addition to tropical animals and felines, Hager also sculpted horses and dogs. He did not date his works, making the analysis of his stylistic development difficult. He exhibited regularly at the Belgian Salons (Brussels Salon, Antwerp Spring Salon) and took part in international exhibitions of Belgian art (Bern 1926 and Copenhagen 1931). There were also solo exhibitions in major Brussels galleries (Galerie Le Salonnet).
The intensity of Albert Hager’s work, its dramatic power, vitality, and technical quality, allows him to stand alongside the finest animal sculptors.
Most of his works were cast by the Compagnie des Bronzes (Petermann).
