The Girl in the Tree, Ca 1930, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

The girl in the tree, ca 1930, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist oil on canvas

Woman painters of the early 20th Century often had fascinating lives. By definition, were fearless, unconventional, adventurous. They needed to be, to carve out their place in a still male-dominated world. Alice Kohn (born 1902) is a case in point. In the present work, dating from ca 1930, she depict a very modern girl who looks perfectly at ease sitting in a tree, her legs dangling.

Born into a provincial middle class Jewish family, Alice painted and exhibited while moonlighting as an actress and singer on stage and on the radio, modelled for Picasso and fought undercover in the Resistance durning WW2!

Alice initially studied with fellow woman artist Madeleine Plantais before enrolling at the École des Beaux-Arts from Lyon. She exhibited as early as 1926 at the Salon de Sud Est as well as at the Galerie Pouillé-Lecoutre and Galerie des Archers.

She became friends with René Dumas, Pierre Pelloux, Antoine Chartres, and Henri Vieilly with whom she created the group “Les Nouveaux”: the New Ones!

“Les Nouveaux” first exhibited together in 1931 at the Saint-Pierre gallery. Critics greatly praised Kohn’s works shown at the 1931 Salon d’Automne in Paris as well as the Salon du Sud Est. The Galerie Saint-Pierre in Lyon organised her first solo exhibition in 1933.

In 1936 Kohn met Pierre Bonnard and Fujita. She became friends with the artist Salvado who was Picasso’s model for his painting “l’Arlequin.” Kohn also modelled for Picasso. In 1941 she exhibited at “Galerie Roger” in Lyon.

For undercover operations in the French Resistance, Alice changed her name to “Marie-Claude” and worked as the secretary for the Regional State Major of Combat.

Our painting by Alice Kohn is unsigned and came from an estate close to the artist where we acquired a number of works by Alice. Its authenticity is guaranteed unconditionally, and a Certificate of Authenticity can be issued.

An oil on canvas measuring 46 x 61 cm, the overall framed size of the picture is 71 x 55.5 cm.

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.