Bronze proof, #2/12
Lost wax cast by A.Valsuani
Signed: CH. AUFFRET
21 x 15 x 15 cm

Bibliography:

• Charles Auffret (1929-2001), Sculptures - dessins, Voiron, musée Mainssieux, 2002.
• Charles Auffret, Rome, villa Médicis, 9 mai - 5 juillet 2007, Somogy, 2007.

The model for Gymnastics, a former trapeze artist, was forced to discontinue this activity after a fall. She worked with different sculptors. In 1969, she posed in a manner that was particularly difficult for sculptors René Babin (1919-1997) and Gudmar Olovson (born in 1936). The first created a figure entitled The Star, and the second, Concorde. This model was appreciated for her great flexibility and for her ability to hold complicated positions.

Thanks to the choice of simple plans, to a modeling of intense sensitivity, concentrated on the essential, the sculpture of Gymnastics combines ruggedness and tenderness, or even force and restraint. Charles Auffret was fond of this work, which was one of his first sculptures to be reproduced in bronze.