French School, Early 20th Century, Portrait Of A Hunter, Oil On Canvas, Signed

French school early 20th century,
Portrait of a hunter
signed lower right, the signature has not yet been deciphered
oil on canvas
40 x 32.5
Framed : 47 x 39 cm
In good condition, visible cracks in the black garment. Minor repairs as visible on the reverse side of the canvas. Recently cleaned.
This portrait of a hunter posing with great elegance is also a true genre scene, with a real hunting scene depicted in the background on the left. It is as if the hunter is posing in the middle of the action. The artist has also depicted a castle on the right. It is unclear whether this castle belonged to the subject of the portrait.
The signature does not currently provide any clues as to the artist's identity, and as it cannot be deciphered, it is also difficult to provide an exact date, except based on the style. Interestingly, while the subject — a portrait of a hunter — is in keeping with an ancient and classical tradition, the execution and style reveal a modernity, particularly in the use of flat colours. All of this evokes the turn of the century, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, which saw the intersection of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, the evolution of classicism towards modernity was entirely conceivable.