Aristide Maillol - Crouching Girl, bronze, Aristide Maillol

Aristide Maillol (1861-1944) was a French sculptor and painter known for his sensual and simplified forms. He was born in Banyuls-sur-Mer, a small town on the Mediterranean coast of France, and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Maillol began his career as a painter, but turned to sculpture in the early 20th century. His work was strongly influenced by classical Greek and Roman art, as well as the work of Auguste Rodin. He is best known for his bronze sculptures of female nudes, often with smooth, rounded forms and simplified features. Maillol's work was celebrated during his lifetime and he received numerous commissions for public sculptures and monuments. He also designed sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes, a prominent dance company in Paris. Maillol died in a car accident in 1944, but his legacy lives on through his sculptures, paintings and other works of art. Many of his pieces can be found in museums and public spaces around the world, including the Musée Maillol in Paris.