Barge On The Seine (rené Sautin 1881-1968)

Careful delivery €50 in France in addition to the sale price.

Oil on double-sided cardboard, "Barge on the Seine" and "The Willow," 32 x 39.5 cm unframed.
Very good condition. Signed lower right and dated 1935.
Sold with its Montparnasse frame.

The artwork :


Immerse yourself in the heart of the Seine Valley with this vibrant work by René Sautin, an emblematic figure of the Rouen School.

This painting captures a scene of river life typical of the area around Les Andelys, where the artist lived and drew his inspiration throughout his life.
The work is distinguished by a generous and structured touch, between expressionism and post-impressionism, which gives the landscape incredible power.
The contrast between the tender green of the weeping willows in the foreground and the deep tones of the barge creates an immersive depth. This piece combines the bucolic serenity of Normandy with the modernity of a bold line.
A luminous palette and dynamic composition integrate perfectly into a classic or contemporary interior.


The artist : René Sautin (Montfort-sur-Risle 1881-Les Andelys 1968)

A French painter of the Norman school, René Sautin was primarily a landscape painter, trained at the Rouen School of Fine Arts.

After studying in Montfort-sur-Risle and Pont-Audemer, he entered the Rouen School of Fine Arts in the studio of the painter Philippe Zacharie.
He returned to Paris where he spent a year in the Ferrier studio, after which he painted under the guidance of the painter Albert Lebourg.
He settled in Les Andelys in 1911, deeply connected to his Norman homeland.
The banks of the Seine at Les Andelys were his A favorite subject, he often painted with his fellow artists, including Manzanna Pissarro, Paul Signac, Maximilien Luce, André Derain, Armand Guillaumin, Henri Lebasque, and Paul-Elie Gernez, who regularly joined him.
Around 1923, he abandoned Impressionist techniques for a calm and reasoned Fauvism. Having found balance in his means of expression from 1925 onward, he reached his peak in the 1950s.
He is one of the few Norman painters to depict his landscapes in such a personal way, characterized by their power, a certain controlled violence, and a strong sensitivity.
The Second World War profoundly affected the artist. He tirelessly painted the Seine, the quays of Petit-Andelys, and Château Gaillard, but each time it was a new work; his creative genius led him to produce a new composition each time. His technique evolved over time; the lines became more pronounced, the forms outlined in deep black.
In the 1950s, René Sautin continued this tendency to emphasize his drawing.
Unfortunately, he gradually lost his sight. The artist compensated for his vision loss with increasingly intense and vivid colors, which he reproduced on large canvases.
He stopped painting permanently in 1964, four years before his death in 1968 at the age of 87. His works are exhibited in the museums of Pont-Audemer, Vernon, and Les Andelys. He also exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants.