Jean de Roncourt "The archer" Art Deco sculpture in regula, ca 1920

This sculpture by Jean de Roncourt embodies a striking dramatic tension through the figure of an archer in action. On his knees, torso taut and muscles bulging, the man draws his bow in a gesture of controlled power. The dynamic, almost choreographic posture reveals a perfect knowledge of human anatomy, typical of the Art Deco period to which de Roncourt belonged. The grey patinated regula lends an antique nobility to the subject, while the onyx base adds a touch of refinement.
The archer, dressed in a simple loincloth, seems frozen in a suspended moment between concentration and the release of energy. The face, turned skyward, expresses determination, self-mastery and perhaps a spiritual or heroic quest. With its refined style and expressive power, the work evokes the ideals of virility, élan and classical beauty revisited through the prism of modernism.
Jean de Roncourt, known for his athletic male figures, pays homage here to restrained strength and elegant movement. The sculpture goes beyond the simple representation of a gesture to become a symbol: that of man in harmony with his inner strength and natural laws.
- Biography of Jean de Roncourt:Jean de Roncourt was a French sculptor active between the wars, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, a key period in the Art Deco style. Little precise biographical information exists about him, but his work is well identified: he specialized in powerful, heroic male figures, often in motion, embodying the virile, athletic ideal of his era. He worked mainly in regule, a zinc-based alloy, which he patinated to imitate bronze. His sculptures, often produced in series, were destined for interior decoration and demonstrate a great sense of modelling and dynamism. Through his art, Jean de Roncourt illustrates the spirit of an era focused on progress.