Francois Sasmayoux. Large Orientalist Pastel Titled: At Mogador

The light and colors of the Orient, the desert peoples, and the clothing from time immemorial have always been a source of fascination for European artists, a source that seems almost cliché today. Yet, in the 20th century, there were artists who managed to renew this perspective, without falling into the trap, thanks to their sensitivity. François Sasmayoux (1944-2006) was one of them. Trained at the Toulouse School of Fine Arts, he settled in Paris and renewed his view of the African world that fascinated him through a virtuoso and sensual pastel technique. He created still lifes and Moroccan landscapes in standard formats, but it was his life-size portraits of celebrities born overseas during his era that brought him to prominence. He then captured, in majestic style, the features of footballer Alain Goma, actor Hubert Koundé, and stylist and model Imane Ayissi, in traditional clothing or impeccable white tuxedos. Prestigious galleries worldwide exhibited his work; these included Galerie Racine in Brussels, Galerie Elysée Montaigne in Paris, and Vento Vierde in Spain. Museums in Marrakech and Horn in the Netherlands dedicated events to him. In 1998, the Kamel Mennour Gallery on the Champs-Élysées presented a retrospective of his works from 1993 to 1997 and published a catalogue with Ramsay. The pastel we are viewing is reproduced here under the title "A Mogador." Describing this work is superfluous, as the sensuality of the pastel lends an almost lifelike presence to the model, with a touch of dreamlike quality in the presentation of the figure in a flowing burnous that envelops him until only his luminous face and hands are visible. It is difficult to photograph the whole piece accurately, as the glass surface is prone to reflecting any unwanted object. It is in its original gallery presentation frame, the back bearing the artist's stamp. The dimensions of the pastel alone are: 110 cm x 75 cm. The catalog will be given to the buyer.