The Met Store Sculpture*François Pompon: Owl Mini Sculpture

This small resin mini sculpture was inspired by a delightful chouette (owl) sculpture by François Pompon (French, 1855–1933), a one-time assistant to Auguste Rodin. The artist abstracted the bird’s rounded form by smoothing the body and removing most anatomical detail. Between 1918 and 1923, he created several variations on this avian theme in wood, plaster, and bronze, returning to the owl subject again in 1926. Pompon produced numerous animal sculptures that were beloved for their simplicity and charm.