Joe Descomps

“L’Aurore” is a large Art Deco bronze sculpture of a kneeling nude woman, partially draped and poised in a twisting, almost spiral movement that emphasizes the dynamism of the female body. The figure is shown with one knee on the ground and the other leg drawn up, one arm raised over her head and the other gathering a heavy fold of drapery across her thigh, creating a play of smooth skin against deeply incised cloth. The surface has a rich, dark patina characteristic of Descomps-Cormier’s mature work, which often uses a “medal” type finish to accentuate volumes rather than sharp angularity. The modeling is softly rounded and sensuous but controlled, giving the impression of calm, classical poise rather than overt theatricality, aligning it with the more elegant, restrained side of French Art Deco sculpture around the mid-1920s.

Joé Descomps-Cormier was a French sculptor, chaser, and goldsmith known for Art Nouveau jewelry and later Art Deco sculpture, active from the late 19th century through the 1930s. He was born Emmanuel‑Jules‑Joseph Descomps in Clermont‑Ferrand on 18 January 1869 and died in Paris on 24 April 1950