Art Blogging: Demetre Chiparus

Demetre Chiparus (1886-1947) was an Art Deco sculptor. Born in Romania, he attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and began exhibiting at the Salon in 1914. He rose to fame in the 1920s and 30s, perfecting the technique of chryselephantine -- a way of forming sculptures from bronze and ivory.





This is Jupettes. Chiparus was captivated by the world of dance, both classical ballet and modern forms. This is a work of chryselephantine -- bronze for the body, ivory for the flesh.



Dancers. This bronze sculpture reminds me of why I adore Art Deco: the entire goal of the style is to be supremely elegant and graceful. Art Deco is a geometry of clean, crisp lines drawn in broad, sweeping gestures. Nothing about Art Deco is subdued or subtle.


Girl With Parrot. See what I mean? The broad sweep of a circle immediately grabs the viewer, like a whirlpool of bronze.