Drawing by Paul Landowski (1944)

Christ the Redeemer sculptor Paul Landowski draws an angel, one of his main inspirations for the icon of Rio de Janeiro.

Drawing by Paul Landowski. On the 2nd page of the book “Peut-on enseigner les Beaux-Arts ?” by Landowski himself (author and owner). 14cm x 19.3cm x 2cm. Paris, +/- 1944. Excellent condition. Single piece.

Paul Landowski (1875-1961) was a French sculptor known for his large monumental works. He was born in Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and worked in a studio with the renowned sculptor, Auguste Rodin.

Throughout his career, Landowski produced a series of monumental sculptures that adorn public squares, buildings and museums around the world. One of his most famous works is the statue of Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, created in collaboration with the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

The statue was commissioned in 1921 by a group of Brazilian religious leaders who wanted to build a large religious monument atop Corcovado Mountain, one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Paul Landowski's inspiration for creating the Christ the Redeemer statue was a combination of religious and cultural factors.

Landowski was a devout Catholic, and his faith had a significant impact on his work. He believed that art was a way to express divine beauty and inspire people to seek transcendence. His work reflects religious themes, such as the figure of Christ, saints and angels.

He was especially fascinated by angels. For him, angels were symbols of hope, peace and divine protection. He saw them as powerful and benevolent figures capable of guiding and inspiring us in our daily lives.

The book itself is already a rarity. There are only 200 copies, this being number 3, Landowski's own copy with some annotations by him. " Is it possible to teach the fine arts?". This is one of the questions the artist poses in the two hundred and fifty page book, the result of many years of reflection. How to teach them? The question is not new. It has been debated since the 18th century. Theories clash, contradicting each other. Unanimity cannot be expected on this question, to which Landowski does not offer a completely new solution. He tries to improve already acquired solutions and defend institutions that he believes are good.

The drawing, which is on the second page, touches the soul. I've never seen another like it and it immediately made me think of Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City. It was like getting a doodle of a woman by Picasso or traces of a bird by Santos Dumont. Pure inspiration, pure emotion.