Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

Name: Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1040997
Availability: SoldOut

1920 - 1940

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

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.

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. Alice Kohn love Provence in the South of France, where she regularly painted and exhibited. Her love for the area and the wonderful quality of its light shines through.

I was fortunate to be able to acquire a small quantity of works by Alice from an estate close to the artist. Here is a rare signed work, an oil on canvas measuring 46 x 38 cm. The overall framed size of the picture is 55 x 48 cm.

Physical Dimensions

Height

46cm (18.11")

Width

38cm (14.96")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1940s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1040997

Dealers Notes

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.

Description

fig 1. Lightly cubist woman reading in the shade of the trees, ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist modernist oil on canvas — fig 1. Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

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.

Skippings Fine Arts

She exhibited as early as 1926 at the Salon de Sud Est as well as at the Galerie Pouillé-Lecoutre and Galerie des Archers.

fig 2. Lightly cubist woman reading in the shade of the trees, ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist modernist oil on canvas — fig 2. Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

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.

fig 3. Lightly cubist woman reading in the shade of the trees, ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist modernist oil on canvas — fig 3. Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

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.

fig 4. Lightly cubist woman reading in the shade of the trees, ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist modernist oil on canvas — fig 4. Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

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. Alice Kohn love Provence in the South of France, where she regularly painted and exhibited. Her love for the area and the wonderful quality of its light shines through.

fig 5. Lightly cubist woman reading in the shade of the trees, ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French woman artist modernist oil on canvas — fig 5. Lightly Cubist Woman Reading in the Shade of the Trees, Ca 1940, Provence, the South of France, French Woman Artist Modernist Oil on Canvas

I was fortunate to be able to acquire a small quantity of works by Alice from an estate close to the artist. Here is a rare signed work, an oil on canvas measuring 46 x 38 cm. The overall framed size of the picture is 55 x 48 cm.