César (César Baldaccini)

La Pacholette

About this artwork

César became internationally known in the 1960s for his sculptures made by crushing cars. However, he had been making figurative sculpture since the early 1950s by welding together scrap metal. He made a series of female torsos and later moved on to making wing-like structures and imaginary and fantastical animals. In this large bronze sculpture, the bird’s encrusted feet contrast with its polished, if ragged-edged, plumage. The title is taken from a French slang word used in Marseilles, described by the artist’s assistant as meaning ‘something like “a nice girl” or as we could say in a certain vulgar French “une belle poule”.’

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
  • title:
    La Pacholette
  • date created:
    1966
  • materials:
    Bronze (6/9)
  • measurements:
    86.40 x 96.50 x 72.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 1970
  • accession number:
    GMA 1107
  • gallery:
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César (César Baldaccini)

César (César Baldaccini)