Artist
Născut în Paris, France
Early Life and Education
Born: March 19, 1882, Paris, France
Died: October 18, 1935
Parents: Marie Barré (daughter of a sculptor) and Jean Lachaise (cabinetmaker who designed furniture for Gustave Eiffel's apartment in the Eiffel Tower).
Early Training: Studied at the École Municipale Bernard Palissy (age 13) and later at the Académie Nationale des Beaux-Arts (1898-1904) under Gabriel-Jules Thomas.
Early Career: Worked as a modeler for René Lalique, designing decorative objects.
Move to America and Relationship with Isabel Nagel
Meeting Isabel: Around 1902/1903 met and fell in love with Isabel Dutaud Nagle, an American woman of French Canadian descent.
Immigration: In 1906, after working for Lalique to pay for his passage, Lachaise immigrated to Boston, vowing to follow Isabel.
Early Work in America: Worked as a sculptor's assistant for H.H. Kitson in Boston and later Paul Manship in New York (1912-1921).
Marriage: Married Isabel Dutaud Nagle in 1917 after her divorce. Lachaise considered Isabel his primary inspiration, referring to her as "Woman."
Artistic Development and Style
Development of Unique Style: While influenced by European sculpture training, Lachaise developed a distinctive style in America, characterized by robust and voluptuous depictions of the female nude.
"Woman" as a Theme: His concept of "Woman" evolved into a central theme, representing vitality, fertility, and a force of nature based on Isabel's image.
Sculptural Characteristics: Lachaise’s nudes were known for their powerful forms, emphasizing breasts, abdomen, thighs, and buttocks with “a rounded voluminousness.”
Materials: Primarily worked in bronze.
Major Works and Recognition
Standing Woman (Modeled 1928-30): Considered his most famous work, exemplifies his style of the female nude.
Portraits: Created portraits of notable figures including John Marin, Georgia O'Keeffe, Marianne Moore, and Lincoln Kirstein.
Architectural Commissions: His works were chosen for commissions at AT&T Building and Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Retrospective Exhibition: The Museum of Modern Art held a retrospective exhibition in 1935, the first for any American sculptor.
Historical Significance
Redefining the Female Nude: Lachaise helped redefine the female nude in American art, moving away from slender depictions towards more robust and sensual forms.
American Modernism: Played a critical role in the birth of American modernism by pushing boundaries and exploring the human body innovatively.
Influence: His work influenced subsequent generations of sculptors with his emphasis on form, volume, and emotional expression.
Legacy: Recognized as "the greatest American sculptor of his time" by ARTnews, Lachaise's legacy continues to be celebrated for its contribution to American art history.
