L’Epouse 1921

Charles Despiau sculpted L’Epouse, a bronze sculpture, which loosely translates to 'The Wife'. Here, the artist is interested in the process, the texture of the clay. I'm fascinated by the marks, those lumps and bumps, those ridges of metal. The figure is hunched and leaning against the column as if exhausted. It's a study of gravity. Her face rests against the surface, worn down, as if worn down by life. Look at the marks around the figure’s chest and hands, like she is clinging to something unseen. Is it her children? Her former self? Despiau was a contemporary of Matisse and they both shared a fascination for the human form. Like Matisse, he was interested in stripping things back to their most raw state. But there's a vulnerability here that makes me think of Louise Bourgeois. Like her, Despiau has a very touch-oriented relationship to his materials. And as with all great art, it's up for discussion, up for grabs.