First monument erected 1921 (≈ 1921)
Original tribute near the church after 1918.
21 octobre 2014
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 21 octobre 2014 (≈ 2014)
Total protection of the monument to the dead.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
milieu XXe siècle
New sculptured monument
New sculptured monument milieu XXe siècle (≈ 2050)
Work by Cel Le Gaucher, regionalist style.
Heritage classified
The monument to the dead in its entirety (Cd. E, public domain, not cadastre, cf. plan annexed to the decree): inscription by order of 21 October 2014
Key figures
Marcel Ganguillem, dit Cel Le Gaucher - Sculptor
Author of the current monument, regionalist style.
Origin and history
The monument to the dead of Bascons, dedicated to World War I, was originally erected in 1921 near the church. This first, sober building reflected the collective mourning of the 1920s, when the French communes massively honored their fallen soldiers. The Landes region, marked by strong rural mobilization, suffered heavy losses, making these local tributes particularly poignant.
After World War II, the municipality commissioned a new monument to artist Marcel Ganguillem, nicknamed Cel Le Gaucher. This Dutch sculptor, known for his regionalist style, designed a symbolic work: a Meninotte (woman of the Landes), mourning his missing children. Inaugurated in the mid-20th century, this monument embodies both the pain of conflict and the local identity, mixing national memory and Dutch heritage.
The monument is now protected as part of the Historic Monuments, and is classified by order of 21 October 2014. Its location north of the church of Bascons, although documented, suffers from poor geographical accuracy (level 5/10 depending on the sources). The work remains an artistic and historical testimony of the 20th century wars, rooted in the cultural landscape of New Aquitaine.
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