Gazing at an apple, Eve stands before us. This is not just any Eve. This is Paul Roussel’s “Eve à la pomme”. This bronze statuette captures a pivotal moment. Eve is caught between innocence and knowledge.
Paul Roussel was a Parisian artist born in 1867. He died in 1928. Roussel was a student of renowned sculptors. Pierre Jules Cavelier, Louis Ernest Barrias and Jules Félix Coutan were his teachers. He sculpted for the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. This lasted from 1902 to 1910.
The “Eve à la pomme” statuette dates back to around 1908. Roussel signed it on the terrace’s edge to the right. The Hohwiller foundry also marked it on the back. The statuette’s dimensions are modest. It measures 14.3 cm in height, 12.5 cm in width and 15.0 cm in depth.
This particular “Eve à la pomme” statuette has an interesting history. It was once in Paul Roussel’s studio. After 1928, it belonged to his widow. She donated it to the Musée du Luxembourg in 1930. It later moved to the Musée National d’Art Moderne. In 1977, it was assigned to the Musée du Louvre. Finally, in 1978, it found its home at the Musée d’Orsay.
Roussel achieved significant recognition during his career. He won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1895. He also won a silver medal in 1900. Roussel was declared “hors concours” the same year. He became an Officer of the Légion d’Honneur.
The statuette presents Eve in unashamed nudity. She gazes at the apple. She has just picked it from the Tree of Knowledge. She hasn’t yet tasted the fruit. She is unaware of her nakedness and hasn’t broken divine law.
The sculpture is less about biblical representation. It is more about sensual depiction. Many enthusiasts favored this at the turn of the century. The young woman’s expression is both naive and troubled. Her abundant hair adds to the statuette’s appeal. It is a secular appreciation of the female form. A life-size bronze version resides at the Musée d’Orsay.
Imagine Roussel’s hands meticulously carving this piece. It captures a moment of profound decision. “Eve à la pomme” is not just a statue. It is a symbol of human curiosity and the dawn of consciousness. It is a timeless exploration of innocence and the allure of the unknown.