Le Pouce

sculpture by César

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July 16, 2026

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"Le Pouce" is a sculpture by the French artist César Baldaccini, known simply as César. It is a monumental representation of a thumb. One version of this sculpture, standing 12 meters (40 feet) tall, was erected in the La Défense district of Paris. César was a prominent figure in the New Realism art movement, known for his innovative use of materials and techniques, including compressions of everyday objects like automobiles and scrap metal. His work often explored themes of consumerism and the transformation of materials.1

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César
…a representation of his thumb; Le Pouce, a 12-metre (40-foot) version, was erected in the Parisian quarter of La Défense. César’s most massive work was a 520-ton barrier of compressed automobiles erected at the Venice Biennale in 1995.
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…a representation of his thumb; Le Pouce, a 12-metre (40-foot) version, was erected in the Parisian quarter of La Défense. César’s most massive work was a 520-ton barrier of compressed automobiles erected at the Venice Biennale in 1995.
Read More