Jeunes maraudeurs, Bas-relief sculpté dans la craie 1930 - 1960

Helio-Cachan made this chalk bas-relief, called 'Young Marauders', at an unknown date. The figures seem to emerge out of the stone, like little ghosts, or memories. Chalk is such a fragile medium, and this piece has a raw, unfinished quality. It reminds me that the act of making art is a process, and like all processes, it has an endpoint, whether intended or not. I love the texture in this work, the slightly rough quality of the chalk, and the way the figures are formed with such simple, direct marks. Look at the way the artist captured the roundness of the children's bodies, the softness of their skin. There's a real tenderness in the way they are depicted. The composition reminds me of some of Rodin's fragmentary sculptures. Like Rodin, Helio-Cachan seems less interested in perfection, and more invested in the human quality of his subjects. Ultimately, 'Young Marauders' is less about telling us something, and more about evoking a feeling. It's a humble work, in a humble material, but it speaks volumes.