Chasse-Pôt, Jean-Jules (Paul Rancillac)

France, 1933 - 2010

Jean-Jules Chasse-Pôt pseudonym of Paul Rancillac, studied classical and artistic studies. After working in various professions, including carpentry and antiques, he devoted himself to sculpture from 1968 onwards. He adopted this pseudonym to distinguish himself from his brother, the painter Bernard Rancillac. The characters in his sculptures caricature the attributes of the petty bourgeoisie, such as clerks,enigmatic soldiers, naked women and various erotic couples. He portrayed various figures, such as Daniel Cohn-Bendit, one of the heroes of the May 1968 revolution. In his works, he essentially used papier-mâché and wood, as they were inexpensive materials. Later, he would turn to bronze .Chasse-Pot was essentially inspired by old toys such as lead soldiers and photographs of ancestors found in the attic of the family home.