François-Xavier Lalanne 1927-2008

François-Xavier Lalanne, a major figure in 20th-century sculpture and decorative arts, is closely associated with the postwar avant-garde. Best known for his dreamlike bestiary—sheep, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and birds—Lalanne developed a visual language in which animals become carriers of poetry, humor, and quiet subversion. In Petit Troupeau de moutons, this sculptural vocabulary is transposed into the medium of tapestry, elevating a domestic object into a fully autonomous work of art and reinforcing his lifelong interest in integrating art into daily life.

Sheep occupy a particularly central place in Lalanne’s œuvre. He first presented a sculpted flock in 1966 at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture, introducing a motif that would become emblematic. Beyond their apparent innocence, these sheep subtly play with the notion of conformity and collective behavior—the idea of a “sheep-like mass”—while asserting a strong aesthetic presence. Over time, they evolved into seats, sculptures, and monumental installations, combining wit with formal elegance.

In the tapestry, the textile surface is animated by a rhythmic repetition of stylized sheep. Their naïve yet graphic treatment creates the illusion that they emerge from the surface, forming a pastoral landscape that is at once abstract and dreamlike. The use of wool enhances the tactile softness of the work, establishing a harmony between material and subject that echoes Lalanne’s sculptural sensibility.

Lalanne’s sheep have also seduced major collectors, notably Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who embraced his ability to bring nature and fantasy into refined interiors. While some sheep are conceived for domestic spaces, others inhabit the outdoors, such as the celebrated installation created in 1991 for the gardens of the Château de Chenonceau. In this tapestry, function ultimately dissolves: the rug ceases to be an object to walk on and becomes a pictorial composition laid on the floor—an artwork in its own right, fully embodying Lalanne’s vision of art as lived experience. 

These emblematic works can be discovered at the Galerie Hadjer, where a refined selection of tapestries and sculptures highlights the dialogue between modern art, craftsmanship, and the poetic universe of François-Xavier Lalanne.