Art Nouveau Statue - Young Girl Bathing - signed Leon Bertaux

The Poetic Grace of Nature: Bathing Girl – Signed by Léon Bertaux

In this exquisite Art Nouveau bronze "Bathing Girl," Léon Bertaux captures the fleeting grace of a maiden immersed in a secret forest pool. Her lithe figure bends gently, a delicate dragonfly rests on her shoulder blade, her wings hovering in silent flight as if whispering ancient hymns of forest streams. Discreetly signed "Léon Bertaux" on the base, the sculpture captures a unique moment of unprotected beauty.

From Boury-en-Vexin to the Heart of Paris

Léon Bertaux was born in 1827 in Boury-en-Vexin, a small commune north of Paris, where ancient oaks and meandering streams inspired countless reveries. As an apprentice to local stonemasons, he demonstrated an early talent for depicting both human forms and the organic flourishes of nature. Around 1850, Bertaux moved to Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and absorbed the flowing lines of the emerging Art Nouveau movement.

An Icon in 1870

This famous Art Nouveau sculpture was created in 1870 in Bertaux's studio near Montmartre, beginning as a clay model by gaslight. The artist strove to capture the delicate curves of a youthful back and the fleeting expression of a hidden smile. After refining the model, he entrusted the work to a renowned bronze foundry in Seine-et-Marne. The lost-wax casting process immortalized every nuance—from the folds of a girl's dress to the intricate veins of a dragonfly's wings. A warm patina was applied by hand, giving the work a soft luminosity that highlights raised contours and conceals deeper shadows.

Anatomy Interwoven with Botanical Elegance

Unlike classical nudes that celebrate heroic forms, this Art Nouveau statue combines the human body with botanical motifs. The girl's hair, tied loosely in a bun, evokes the twisting tendrils of aquatic plants. Her graceful arms arch like willow branches, tracing the surface of the pond. Beneath her upright foot, the pedestal subtly evokes rippling water and moss-covered stones, reminding us that she belongs to both the flesh and the forest.

Dragonfly: Delicate Messenger of Nature

The dragonfly perched on her shoulder is more than just an ornament: it symbolizes transformation and the fleeting beauty of summer days. With its microscopic wings, it immortalizes a living being whose life lasts only a few hours. Bertaux's inclusion of this tiny ally underscores the harmony between human and insect, body and breeze, and invites contemplation of life's fleeting wonders.

A Statement of Refined Interior Design

As an element of Art Nouveau interior decor, this sculpture transforms any space into an enchanting glade. Whether in a sun-drenched conservatory or an elegant drawing room, its presence evokes the gentle murmur of hidden streams and the stillness of leaf-shaded groves. The interplay of bronze and light creates an ever-changing play of shine and shadow, revealing new nuances with each viewing.

The Legacy of a Master Sculptor

Léon Bertaux explored the connection between humans and botany until his death in 1910, leaving behind a body of work that combines academic rigor with the organic imagination of Art Nouveau. His "Bathing Girl" remains one of his most famous works—a testament to his ability to combine innocence, nature, and artistic innovation in a single, enduring form.

The Enduring Appeal of Bronze and Beauty

This famous Art Nouveau sculpture is both a timeless gem and a profound meditation on youth, water, and the magic of the forest. Signed "Léon Bertaux" and cast in the year Europe's artistic movements reshaped tradition, it is an irreplaceable heirloom. Encountering this work is to immerse yourself in a world where time moves more slowly and beauty—like water and wings—shimmers with ephemeral perfection.

Width: 29 cm
Height: 28 cm
Depth: 21 cm
Weight: 6,2 kg
100% Bronze