Alix Marquet was a French sculptor, born in Nièvre in 1875 and died in Paris in 1939. His father Charles Marquet was a stonemason, giving young Alix an early interest in stone as a medium for expression. He also had some early drawing talent which caused the postmaster of his town, Henri Ferrier, who also happened to be a painter to take an interest in the 14-year-old boy and foster his budding artistic interests. With the assistance of some other gentlemen Alix moved to Paris as a teen and began his career as a sculptor. His first work, a bust of his own father, was accepted in the Salon in 1893, when he was just 18 years old. In 1901 he won his first medal at Salon, taking third prize for his piece L’imploration. Two years later he took second prize at Salon with Fin de Labeur. In another two years he at last took first prize, winning for Ceux qui restent.  If you guessed that he would win his next big prize in two years, you’re right! Marquet took the esteemed National Prize for the very piece we are about to look at, Il n’est pas de rose…

[Edit: A French speaker kindly corrected my mistaken view that the title of this piece meant ‘It is not pink’ when it actually means ‘it is not a rose’ which definitely changes the meaning but I’m not really sure what the piece is meant to say. But a big thanks to you, sir! I think I’m just going to quit trying to translate these things myself!]

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (1)

A cute toddler trait: curling the toes underneath the foot.

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (2)

Here you can see she still has some of her baby fat as her belly protrudes somewhat. It’s also adorable how she gnaws on her pinkie finger as she considers the paradox of the rose that isn’t rose-colored.

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (3)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (4)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (5)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (6)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (7)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (8)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (9)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (10)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (11)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (12)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (13)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (14)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (15)

Alix Marquet – Il n’est pas de rose… (1907) (16)

I do have one other piece by Marquet to show you, but unfortunately I only have one image for it and it isn’t the best. C’est la vie.

Alix Marquet – Le passé, le présent, l’avenir (1931)