Abstracted Still Life with Artist and Easel, French 1946 Fauve Expressionist Oil on Canvas

1920 - 1940

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

It is little by little that this picture reveals itself to the viewer. Abstract at first sight, we slowly gain glimpses of the universe of the artist, Yvette Alde. There she is herself: at her easel, a tall young woman with a bodice top and a long purple skirt (Yvette was 35 years old when she painted this). She is painting a figure suspended in space; at her feet, there is a violin-shaped table.

To her left awaits an entire still life: there, on a second table, is a jug and a plate with a lemon. It is as if Yvette's mirror image is already turning towards it. And is there the figure bowing to her, at the very left? Or is he mocking her? The colours and the impasto are bold, as are the brushstrokes: it is 1946: the war is over, but its effect can still be felt.

Yvette Alde (1911-1967) had studied at the Grande Chaumière in Paris with Charles Picard le Doux and André Lhote. She began exhibiting her work in 1932, at the Salon des Indépendants. Her first solo show was held in 1935, in Barcelona.

In the post war years, she exhibited with the mythical gallery Drouant-David (who at the same time also had the young Bernard Buffet under contract). In the UK, she exhibited at Anglo-French Art Centre in London in 1947. The painting presented here dates from this period, when the artist was at her strongest and most creative. Painted presumably on a reused canvas - 1946 was a meagre year - our oil on canvas measures 54 x 65 cm and is signed at dated at the lower right.

The painting is framed in a hand carved wood by RG - quite possibly the best framers in the world. The business was started in the late 19th century by Emile Gault, and by the mid 1930s, Picasso, Dali and Chagall could regularly be seen on RG’s premises to have their paintings framed.

Our frame dates from the 1950s, so it does show some signs of age, but it is a wonderful addition to the painting. The overall framed size is 77 x 88 cm.

Physical Dimensions

Height

54cm (21.26")

Width

65cm (25.59")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

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

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA655755

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

It is little by little that this picture reveals itself to the viewer. Abstract at first sight, we slowly gain glimpses of the universe of the artist, Yvette Alde.

“

There she is herself: at her easel, a tall young woman with a bodice top and a long purple skirt (Yvette was 35 years old when she painted this).

Skippings Fine Arts

She is painting a figure suspended in space; at her feet, there is a violin-shaped table.

fig 1. Abstracted still life with artist and easel, French 1946 fauve expressionist oil on canvas — fig 1. Abstracted Still Life with Artist and Easel, French 1946 Fauve Expressionist Oil on Canvas

To her left awaits an entire still life: there, on a second table, is a jug and a plate with a lemon. It is as if Yvette's mirror image is already turning towards it. And is there the figure bowing to her, at the very left? Or is he mocking her? The colours and the impasto are bold, as are the brushstrokes: it is 1946: the war is over, but its effect can still be felt.

fig 2. Abstracted still life with artist and easel, French 1946 fauve expressionist oil on canvas — fig 2. Abstracted Still Life with Artist and Easel, French 1946 Fauve Expressionist Oil on Canvas

Yvette Alde (1911-1967) had studied at the Grande Chaumière in Paris with Charles Picard le Doux and André Lhote. She began exhibiting her work in 1932, at the Salon des Indépendants. Her first solo show was held in 1935, in Barcelona.

fig 3. Abstracted still life with artist and easel, French 1946 fauve expressionist oil on canvas — fig 3. Abstracted Still Life with Artist and Easel, French 1946 Fauve Expressionist Oil on Canvas

In the post war years, she exhibited with the mythical gallery Drouant-David (who at the same time also had the young Bernard Buffet under contract). In the UK, she exhibited at Anglo-French Art Centre in London in 1947. The painting presented here dates from this period, when the artist was at her strongest and most creative. Painted presumably on a reused canvas - 1946 was a meagre year - our oil on canvas measures 54 x 65 cm and is signed at dated at the lower right.

fig 4. Abstracted still life with artist and easel, French 1946 fauve expressionist oil on canvas — fig 4. Abstracted Still Life with Artist and Easel, French 1946 Fauve Expressionist Oil on Canvas

The painting is framed in a hand carved wood by RG - quite possibly the best framers in the world. The business was started in the late 19th century by Emile Gault, and by the mid 1930s, Picasso, Dali and Chagall could regularly be seen on RG’s premises to have their paintings framed.

Our frame dates from the 1950s, so it does show some signs of age, but it is a wonderful addition to the painting. The overall framed size is 77 x 88 cm.