Grand Cerf 1929

Francois Pompon made this bronze sculpture of a deer sometime in the first half of the 20th century. What strikes me most is how simplified the form is; it is so smooth, elegant, and stylized. You can sense Pompon’s process through this reduction. Run your eyes over the smooth surface of the body, it’s clear that this work has been cast, a process which inherently lends itself to a certain finish. Then compare this to the more slender, textured legs and antlers. It makes me think of something like Brancusi’s sculptures, which are similarly pared down, and all about the essence of a thing rather than its details. The shape is like a simple, elegant curve—it's all about capturing the spirit of the deer with a minimum of fuss. And isn't that what art is all about? Less is so often more.