Le Verite Meconnue (The Truth Revealed) by Aimé-Jules Dalou

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Le Verite Meconnue (The Truth Revealed)

Aimé-Jules Dalou (1897-1902)

Bronze, rich mid brown patination

Height 19" (48 cm)

Robert Bowman

Signed Dalou Sep. Stamped Susse Fres and inscribed Susse Fres Edts

Robert Bowman has most generously given permission to use in the Victorian Web information, images, and text from his catalogues. The copyright on text and images from these catalogues remains, of course, with him. Readers should consult the website of the Robert Bowman Gallery to obtain information about recent exhibitions and to order catalogues. [GPL]

Commentary by Robert Bowman

The Broken Mirror as it is sometimes called, is a piece of dual symbolism. The first is of a woman, who looking at her reflection in a hand mirror, has thrown it to the ground, breaking it on the floor, her head now rests in her arms in contemplation of the truth of her own reflection.

The second interpretation of the piece, is as a reflection of the Dreyfus affair. The young Jewish Captain Dreyfus was used as a scapegoat for the leaking of secret military plans and consequently jailed for eight years. Dreyfus was stoutly defended by the Dreyfusards, who fought to get him released and then officially pardoned.

Dalou was a member of the Dreyfusards and sculpted this work as a symbol of the nation of France hanging her head in shame at the truth being revealed of its anti-Semitic treatment of this talented young officer.

References

Beattie, Susan. The New Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.

Bowman, Robert.Craft and Creation — 2005. London: Robert Bowman Gallery, 2005, pp. 33-34.

Last modified 18 December 2005