Womanhood, 1940s French Cubist Painting Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

1920 - 1940

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

I did a series of articles on women artists, and so wish I had had this striking work by Marthe Delacroix (1898-1970) to feature in them! More than just a portrait, the girl represented is emblematic of womanhood: strong, probing, thoughtful, tender and fearless. It is a large work, and to represent a person's head as larger than life takes courage - for the sitter as well as for the artist. Dating from the 1940s, the painting is cubist in style, with subtle colouring. Do look at Picasso's portraits of his wife Francoise Gilot from the same period, and you will see that Marthe, on this occasion, is the master's match.

Delacroix had initially studied with Jules Adler and Pierre Eugene Montezin. She later worked with the Nabis artist Maurice DENIS.

Exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Francais, the Salon d'Automne, and the Salon des Tuileries, Marthe obtained numerous awards and medals work her work. Notably, she was awarded a Silver Medal at the mythical Paris International Exhibition of 1937.

Marthe also showed her work at the Salon of women painters, and at the Salon des Indépendants. The French State purchased several of her paintings.

Our painting measures 60 x 51 cm and is signed at the lower right. The overall size in its period frame of heavy, painted wood is 76 x 65 cm.

Physical Dimensions

Height

60cm (23.62")

Width

51cm (20.08")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

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

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA893836

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 a large work, and to represent a person's head as larger than life takes courage - for the sitter as well as for the artist.

Skippings Fine Arts

Dating from the 1940s, the painting is cubist in style, with subtle colouring. Do look at Picasso's portraits of his wife Francoise Gilot from the same period, and you will see that Marthe, on this occasion, is the master's match.

fig 1. Womanhood, 1940s French cubist painting woman artist oil on canvas — fig 1. Womanhood, 1940s French Cubist Painting Woman Artist Oil on Canvas

Delacroix had initially studied with Jules Adler and Pierre Eugene Montezin. She later worked with the Nabis artist Maurice DENIS.

Exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Francais, the Salon d'Automne, and the Salon des Tuileries, Marthe obtained numerous awards and medals work her work. Notably, she was awarded a Silver Medal at the mythical Paris International Exhibition of 1937.