Jewish Boy (Bambino ebreo), ca. 1892 - 1894

Medardo Rosso spent most of his career in Paris, where he established himself, along with Auguste Rodin, as one of the most authentic representatives of early Modern sculpture. More than any of his other sculptures, Rosso kept on reworking this figure of the Jewish boy. He regularly donated versions to friends, in this case to Mrs. Chabrier, probably the wife of the composer Emmanuel Chabrier, with whom Rosso kept in touch. We know nothing about the identity of the sad-looking child. His downcast eyes seem to suggest he is worried about something. Childhood is often idealised as a carefree time, but actually it often comes with universal emotions such as sadness, loneliness and loss.