The sculptor Irénée Rochard
The elegance of movement sculpted in bronze
Irénée Rochard (1906–1984) was a French sculptor among the most representative of 20th-century animalier art. Born in Paris into an artistic family—his mother was a painter, his older brother, Étienne, also a sculptor—Rochard took an interest in sculpture at an early age, graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts and the École des Arts Décoratifs.
From the very beginning, he chose to devote himself almost exclusively to the representation of the animal world. His works depict horses, panthers, deer, lions, birds, and elephants with a rare combination of anatomical realism and stylized refinement, typical of the Art Deco aesthetic. Each figure sculpted by Rochard expresses vitality and movement, as if captured in a moment suspended between grace and power.
She primarily used patinated bronze, but also experimented with marble, ceramic, onyx, and ivory, achieving a perfect balance between material and form. Her sculptures, never overly monumental, emphasize essential lines and a visual harmony that makes each subject not only recognizable but also profoundly expressive.
Rochard exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français and received numerous awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix Animalier. Her works are now held in public and private collections and are highly sought-after in the early 20th-century decorative art market.
Through her art, Irénée Rochard translated the silent language of animals into enduring, elegant, and ever-moving forms—a silent dialogue between nature and sculpture that continues to speak to the eyes and hearts of the beholder.