Carpeaux, Le Trait d’Union

This little model by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux of his family, it’s just inches tall, whipped out at a rapid pace; doubt it took him even ten minutes. What may initially look like a few blobs, upon contemplation turns into be a family story. What may initially look like a few blobs, upon contemplation turns into be a family story. Le Trait d’Union is a French term for hyphen, the healing of the breach between two words. The child is healing a very difficult relationship between Carpeaux and his wife. She was charming, everybody loved her. He was rather a beast of a husband. He set detectives on her tracks because he was jealous. His little son, who was gravely sick, when he survived brought them back together. And Carpeaux let out a stream of mementos in gratitude for his recovery. I think it would look kitschy as a marble. By being small, and also by being clay-- which has the most uncanny ability to evoke human flesh--it’s gotta stay modest and intimate. Only the wife is in a very thin little shift, so that you can read every limb unobstructed by clothing. It’s the most expressive way of laying bare a figure’s emotions. These are made with just pinches of clay. It’s got his fingerprints on it. He just gouges it out in terribly short order. From certain points of view, it doesn’t even make total sense. You start to feel his hands, and you come to look for it more and more. I’m fascinated by his relationship with his family; this passionate regard even when he was being a meanie. And I think just an impression of the vigor and the economy with which he can express himself. The quick sketch can be the most passionate revelation of talent and intimate feelings.