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One of the most important things in the life of an artist is a catalogue raisonné. They also are an invaluable source for research and an important work material for the art market.

Unfortunately we are missing many catalogue raisonné of important artists of the 20^th century. The now published catalogue raisonné of Jaques Lipchitz a gap is closed by the Spanish art historian Kosme M. de Barañano.

Jacques Lipchitz was born in Lithuania in 1891 as Chaim Jakoff Lipchitz. He was one of the most important French sculptors of the 20^th century. The artist with French-American roots came to Paris in 1909, where he changed his name to Jacques in order to get accepted at the École des Beauc-Arts and the Académie Julian. His encounters with Archipenko, Picasso and the circle of cubists had a great influence on his work: 1913 he created the first cubistic sculptures.

A first retro perspective took place in the gallery de la Renaissance in Paris in 1930. The first large exhibition followed in New York at the Brummer Gallery. His famous piece ?Prometheus? was shown at the Paris world fair 1937. He received the gold medal for this sculpture. He fled to Toulouse, when Paris was occupied by the Germans in 1940. Later he leaves France for good heading for the States, relocating himself in New York. He died on Capri on the 16th of May 1973. His corpse was transferred to Jerusalem where he was buried.

Kosme M. de Barañano created an impressive catalogue: on 598 pages he collects 400 pieces starting with the ?mythologic scene? from 1911. Influences by Rodin and his friend Modigliani are visible in his early sculptures, but from 1913 cubism clearly points out. The shift towards more organic, smooth shapes, which almost look baroque, took place during the 20?s. During the early 30?s you can even see Henry Moore?s influence, i.E. the ?Téte?.

An extensive biography and bibliography accompany this Spanish-English catalogue raisonné. Apparently the explanations on the pieces are in Spanish ? a translation would have extended the scope of the book. Despite this, the catalogue can be accounted to be as one of the set books on Lipchitz. It is an invaluable source for science, the art market, all collectors and everyone who is interested in classic 20^th century sculpturing.