Joseph Bernard
Joseph Bernard – Young Girl at Her Toilet
A focus on this emblematic sculpture by Joseph Bernard — an ode to feminine grace.
With Young Girl at Her Toilet, Joseph Bernard delivers a work of serene intimacy and formal purity. Created in 1912, this model reflects a shift toward modern sculpture — stripped of superfluous ornamentation, yet retaining discreet sensuality and classical elegance.
Seated in a meditative and natural gesture, the young girl is caught in a moment of quiet preparation. Her stylized form, shaped with gentle precision, reveals both the delicacy of the subject and the technical mastery of the sculptor. The rounded volumes, flowing lines, and composed posture exemplify Bernard’s pursuit of balance and simplicity.
A prestigious and well-documented bronze
This bronze was cast by Claude Valsuani, one of the most renowned foundrymen of the early 20th century, known for his lost-wax casting technique. The sculpture bears the foundry stamp and is numbered 8 — testifying to its authenticity and rarity.
Bibliography and exhibitions
This model is thoroughly documented in the catalogue raisonné of Joseph Bernard and in several reference publications. A larger version (156 x 57 x 56.5 cm), signed and cast by Alexis Rudier, is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (inv. 1937-38), underlining its significance in the artist’s oeuvre.
A collector’s piece
This sculpture offers a rare opportunity to acquire a major work from Joseph Bernard’s repertoire, in a refined and intimate format. It will appeal to collectors of early 20th-century French sculpture, especially those drawn to the harmony of modern aesthetics and classical heritage — a style often likened to that of Aristide Maillol.
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