The Vintage Monkey by Francois-Xavier Lalanne, 2002

Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008) Le Singe (The Monkey), 2002Original etching (etching) signed in pencil by François Xavier Lalanne, in perfect condition.This rare etching depicts a monkey with a mirror. Along with his wife Claude, François Xavier Lalanne (1908-2008) is the most famous French sculptor of the second half of the 20th century. His work is characterized by animal imagery. He studied art at the Académie Julian in Paris. Upon his arrival in the city, he was introduced to many surrealist and modernist figures, such as Man Ray, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely and Constantin Brancusi. He is particularly known for his sheep, ducks, birds, pigeons, monkeys.Supported by gallerists such as Alexandre Iolas, Leo Castelli, Paul Kasmin and Ben Brown, his work was early collected by great connoisseurs, including Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé, Karl Lagerfeld, Peter Marino, Valentino,Terry de Gunzburg, Alberto Pinto, the Rothschilds, the Noailles, Jane Holzer, Michael Shvo, Georges Pompidou, Roman Abramovich, Jacques Grange...