Artwork
Danseuse Cobodgienne (Cambodian Dancer)
Danseuse Cobodgienne (Cambodian Dancer) is a print by the Impressionist artist Pierre Roche. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Danseuse Cobodgienne (Cambodian Dancer) is a 1897 print by French artist Pierre Roche, created using the gypsograph technique. The work showcases Roche's versatility, who practiced sculpture, painting, ceramics, and medallion-making.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman in Cambodian dancer attire, capturing a dynamic pose suggestive of imminent movement. Her costume includes a distinctive crown-like headdress. The subject reflects late 19th-century European fascination with Southeast Asian themes.
Technique & Style
Executed as a gypsograph, the piece contrasts a light-toned figure against a warm, earthy background, conveying energy and movement. The style aligns with the intersection of Impressionist and Realist tendencies, characteristic of Roche's era.
History & Provenance
Pierre Roche, initially trained in painting at the Académie Julian in Paris, later shifted to sculpture under the guidance of Jules Dalou, exhibiting at the Paris Salon. The provenance of Danseuse Cobodgienne is not detailed here.
Context
Created during a period of heightened European interest in Southeast Asian cultures, the piece taps into the contemporary exoticism and artistic exploration of non-Western subjects.
Legacy
Danseuse Cobodgienne represents Roche's contribution to the late 19th-century artistic dialogue, blending technical innovation with thematic curiosity about the global South.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Roche (Paris, 2 August 1855 – Paris, 18 January 1922), pseudonym of Pierre Henry Ferdinand Massignon, was a French sculptor, painter, ceramist and medallist.
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