Nénette 1923

Charles Despiau made Nénette, a plaster sculpture, sometime in the 20th century. When I look at this sculpture, I think about the tactility of the medium. I imagine Despiau carefully building the form, adding layer upon layer of wet plaster. The surface has this rough quality that reveals the marks of the sculptor’s hands. You can almost see the small, deliberate gestures he made to shape the face and hair. I sympathize with Despiau, as he’s trying to capture the essence of this young woman. I wonder what they were both thinking, this young sitter and the artist, during the sittings. There’s something incredibly intimate about the scale and how the texture of the plaster seems to breathe life into Nénette. The slightly asymmetrical eyes and the gentle curve of her lips give her a sense of depth. You can really see Despiau's commitment to capturing the human spirit. All sculptors, including Despiau, are constantly pushing the boundaries of form and expression.