Jean Chauvin was born in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime, France) on 30 March 1889. He was the only surviving child of six siblings—including his twin André Joseph. His entire oeuvre is strongly characterised by the themes of birth and twinning. He moved to Paris in 1908, and enrolled at l'École des Arts Décoratifs (the School of Decorative Arts) on 14 March. He then went to the l'École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts), where he attended sculptor Antonin Mercié's studio starting from 7 January 1909. Chauvin exhibited at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants. He also contributed to the sculpting of La Frize de la danse by Joseph Bernard (currently at the Musée d´Orsay in Paris), but he finally—and definitively—turned towards abstract sculpture.
Chauvin's work ranges from the simplest and most abstract forms—like curves and ovals—to more complex shapes that evoke humanity, flora and fauna, and even sexuality in both obvious and mysterious ways. Chauvin's art is abstract without question, because even though each work retains a very real meaning and often holds accurate references, the stylisation results in a sensitive and geometric art, of which the sensuality—obvious yet sublimated—is stripped of any anecdotal elements. He is sometimes referred to as the most unknown of our great
sculptors.
He was absolutely discrete, kept a well-guarded solitude, and didn't feel much for publicity. An impeccable and extremely daring artist of rare originality.
