Renewal, Springtime After the War, May 1919: Blossoming Trees Near the Ruined Abbey Oii on Panel

This scene, depicting delicate foliage and blossoms as well as a lone sculpture -in the grounds of a ruined Abbey or castle, was painted in the first spring after World War I. It is all the most poignant as artist Jean Victor Foussier (1886-1950) had experienced the war to the full.

He had graduated from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts in 1912, but hardly was given time to start his career. Right the start of the First World War, he was called up and joined the 37th Infantry Regiment in August 1914, with which he participated in the battles of Morhange, Flanders and finally Ypres, where he receives the Croix de Guerre and the Military Medal.

In November 1914, he is taken prisoner by the Germans and interned at the Salzwedel POW camp. He will spend five years there, sketching the camp, his Russian friends, prison life. Demobilised finally in January 1919, he sets off on foot, alone, taking twenty seven days to reach France. When he arrives in Paris his mother, sister and fiancée are waiting for him; but after the long absence initially do not recognise him.

The work of art presented here was painted just three months later.

Jean Foussier finally was able to dedicate himself to painting: he participated in numerous exhibitions in France as well as abroad, in Barcelona and Tel Aviv. He regularly showed his work at the Salon des Artistes Francais and also designed theatre sets for the Parisian stage as well as to murals for chapels and churches.

Measuring 27 x 22 cm, our oil on board is signed at the lower right. A dedication by the artist to the artwork's first owner on the verso was rubbed out a long time ago, certainly to protect privacy, but I was able to decipher some of it:

"A Mademoiselle Madeleine Da(......?) fait à.....mai 1911, Jean Foussier .

Presented in its original lacquered frame, the overall size is 36 x 31 cm.

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