Georges d'Espagnat 1870-1950: Nude Woman Seen From Behind, Monogrammed

Born in Melun in 1870, d’Espagnat settled in Paris in 1888, briefly attended art schools, then
preferred to train independently at the Louvre, under the tutelage of Manet, Renoir,or Courbet. He exhibited from 1891 at the Salon des Refusés, then regularly at theSalon des Indépendants, and participated in the founding of the Salon d’Automne, of which he becamevice-president. He remained close to the avant-garde (Bonnard, Matisse, Fauves) while maintaining an independent stance, thentaught at the École des Beaux-Arts from 1936.
His style is described as “sober and intimate,” with a hazy touch and muted tones,at the crossroads of late Impressionism, the Nabis, and Fauvist reminiscences. The nudes are generally “joyful” or serene, bathed in soft light, with supple drawing and arabesques reminiscent of the colorful freedom of the Fauves. D’Espagnat particularly admires Renoir and the
Venetian masters (Titian, Tintoretto), which is reflected in his taste for luminous flesh, golden complexions, and warm harmonies. In contrast to overt eroticism, the sensuality in our pastels remains discreet, domestic,almost bourgeois, stemming more from intimate feeling than fromprovocation. His pastels extend the same intimate vein as his oils: supple contours, blended volumes, often muted or “pastel” hues, reminiscent of the world of Bonnard/Vuillard.
The medium allows himto accentuate the softness of skin tones and atmospheres, with velvety textures and a subdued light that are particularly suited to nudes and interiors.
Nudes thus contribute greatly to his recognition: exhibitions at Durand-Ruel,Wildenstein, Parisian salons, and then inclusion in major museums such as the Thyssen-Bornemisza.