Le poing

César experimented with what he called “the language of material”. Through his “Compressions” of crushed objects, polymer “Expansions”, and welded metal creations, the artist asked searching questions of consumerist society.In the 1960s, César began working on his “Human Imprints” series. In 1965, he presented his famous Pouce, a monumental piece made from an impression of his own thumb. In 1967, he produced six copies of Sein, a polyester moulding made from the breast of a dancer at the Crazy Horse Saloon.
In 1970, he created Le Poing, a seven-tonne monumental sculpture in polished cast stainless steel. Details such as veins, nails, and skin folds give the piece a realist appearance. The hand is one of the most expressive parts of the human body, used to grasp objects, express tenderness to others, or defend against enemies. A closed fist can evoke emotions ranging from rage to determination. Cast in 1980, the work displayed is an artist’s proof taken from a series of six examples of the sculpture.

César Baldaccini, better known as César, was a French sculptor of Tuscan heritage, born in 1921 in Marseille. He died in 1998 in Paris. He trained in drawing, engraving, and architecture at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Marseille, before studying at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He saw stone as difficult and expensive, instead choosing to work with more affordable materials such as plaster and iron, before experimenting with welding. In 1952, he used scrap metal to create his first ever welded iron animal sculptures. He also made sculptures of female figures from welded metal, and later from partially polished bronze.
In 1961, he became part of the Nouveaux Réalistes movement, alongside artists such as Arman and Niki de Saint Phalle. Famed for his “Compressions” of car parts, in 1976 he created the “César du cinéma” trophy, a compression in bronze awarded in recognition of important achievements in French cinema. A simple yet complex man with a forthright manner typical of the south, he came to be thought of as a timeless craftsman and great creator. César held numerous exhibitions, in Milan, São Paulo, and Mexico.
Two major retrospectives devoted to his work were held in Paris, at the Jeu de Paume in 1997 and at the Pompidou Centre in 2017. César’s works are in museums all over the world, including the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Museum of Modern Art of New York.