The Abduction

Take a moment to look at this large stone sculpture, rising more than two meters high. It’s called L’enlèvement – The Abduction, created in 1937 by sculptor André Deluol. Born in Valence and trained in Paris, Deluol became one of the leading champions of direct carving—a technique where the artist works straight into the stone without relying on a preliminary model.

For him, the block itself, with its material and its surprises, already offered half the subject. The Abduction captures his early style perfectly: strong, dynamic figures, almost caught in a dance, radiating joy and vital energy. This piece comes from a time when Deluol was receiving numerous public commissions all over France, leaving works in Saint-Gaudens, Manosque, Louviers, and La Seyne-sur-Mer.

So when you look at The Abduction, you’re not only admiring a monumental sculpture from the 1930s—you’re also witnessing the spirit of artistic renewal that marked sculpture between the two world wars.