Jan & Joël Martel (1896-1966) Pencil drawing 'l'Odalisque'

About this piece

Beautiful drawing made by Jan and Joël Martel, a very elegant and beautifully styled Odalisque. It was probably a study for a sculpture or relief. Pretty is the way he has placed the Odalisque in 'tight' space.

An odalisque was the name of a slave or concubine in the harem of the Sultan. In the 19th century it was often depicted in paintings or sculptures (Orientalism). In the 1920s she was a favourite subject, Matisse often used an Odalisque in his paintings and graphics. She is often portrayed as erotic and slightly provocative.

The drawing is signed with "JM", it is an often used monogram on drawings of the two brothers.

Biography:
Jan and Joël Martel (Nantes,1896-1966) were twin brothers and sculptors, they have always lived and worked together. Their work consisted of ornamental sculptures, statues, monuments and fountains. They worked in the characteristic style of the Art Deco and Modernism.

The woman, dance and music were common themes, but they also made beautiful animal figures.

At the 1925 World Exhibition 'Art Decoratifs' in 1925 the brothers Martel arranged in collaboration with Robert Mallet-Stevens a "Cubist Square" that caused a lot of commotion, by placing major concrete cubist trees, on the square. They were always progressive, which is not only shown in their work, but also in their material, they used a variety of materials, from traditional bronze, stone and wood, ceramics but also lakamé, a mixed kind of lacquer and plastic, nickel, concrete, steel, copper and other plastics.

Their beautiful studio was completely designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens. It was also the place where the 'l'Union des Artistes Modernes' (UAM) was founded in 1929.

The brothers worked together all their lives, they are also deceased shortly after each other in 1966. Their work is highly sought after and searched for and is part of several museum collections worldwide, such as Museum of Modern Art New York (MOMA) or Musée d'Arts Décoratifs in Paris (MAD).

Literatuur:
- Duncan, Alastair; "Art deco Complete - The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920's & 30's", Thames & Hudson, 2009. Page 118.

- Biography: Joël et Jan Martel, sculpteurs, 1896-1966. Paris, Gallimard/Electa, 1996.

Condition

There are a few folds in the paper, the work is conserved and framed by a paper conservator.