Louis Legrand (1863 - 1951) La Pause Musicale, Circa 1920
Artist: Louis Legrand (1863 - 1951)
Oil on board signed lower left.
Dimensions: 73 x 76 cm
With frame: 93 x 96 cm
Bears on the back an exhibition label with number 382:
-" Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA"
Provenance: Sale of March 30, 1995- Me Claude Boisgirard - Paris - "Collection d'oeuvres de Louis Legrand de Mr et Mme V"
Our painting was featured on the cover of the sale catalog.
Louis Legrand delivers here a work of bold composition, the prerogative of the great masters. Painted with sobriety and spontaneity, the artist suggests rather than describes; his line is both firm and vibrant.
He makes use of light and plays with colored parts and others drawn without color. Although an economy of means characterizes the painting, the scene is lively and the artist subtly takes us into the intimacy of this relaxing scene, offering us a moment suspended in time.
Louis Legrand depicts here two young women in an interior listening to the piano. The painter has chosen to depict the third figure, the pianist, with only his back to view. This unusual framing, which cuts off a figure at the edge of the picture, aims to give the scene a realistic, natural effect
The interior is sober; a sofa, a chair, a small table and the pianist's swivel stool make up the décor.
The focus is on the characters, and in particular on the young redheaded woman at the center of the composition. Light from the left illuminates her, drawing the viewer's eye to her shimmering hair and brilliantly beaded necklace. Her friend on the right is drawn in thick, vibrant strokes. Some very feminine details like the necklace, a ring, a bracelet, a small handbag, white gloves and the white shoes that appear under the pianist's seat enhance the scene.
Bibliography
Louis Legrand was born in Dijon in 1963. Painter, watercolorist, engraver and illustrator, he is a multi-faceted artist.
After training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, he went to Paris in 1884 and became a student of the brilliant and sulphurous Félicien Rops, who introduced him to various techniques, including engraving.
The master appreciated his pupil's skills. In an 1888 letter from Félicien Rops to Mr. Roques, director of the weekly "Le courrier français", he refers to "Louis Legrand's precious and rare qualities, dominated by an extraordinary love of modelling", and writes: "You can imagine that it never occurred to me to teach this fellow anything! Legrand set out unaided, like ducklings going to the pond, to make beautiful drawings that attracted the attention of artists and amateurs alike."
From 1902 onwards, the artist took part in the Paris Salons des Beaux Arts and the 1900 Universal Exhibition, where he won a medal.
He also exhibited at the Samuel Bing gallery, then in 1904 at the Georges Petit gallery. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1906.
In 1911, the Durand-Ruel gallery presented a major retrospective of his work.
Before Toulouse-Lautrec, he depicted Parisian nightlife of the Belle Epoque, lively cafés, women, cancan dancers.
The Moulin Rouge ballroom in Paris was the artist's studio for a long time.
The art publisher and collector Gustave Pellet published 300 engravings for him and bought all his pastels. He also engraved erotic subjects for him.
He is the painter of "gay eroticism".
He is present in numerous private collections
Bibliography
. Camille Mauclair, Louis Legrand, peintre et graveur, Floury, Paris 1910
. Dictionnaire des illustrateurs-1800-1914, Idé et Calande, Neufchatel, Paris 1989
. Bénézit, "Louis Legrand", Oxford Art Online
Museums
. In France: Dijon, musée national Magnin and musée des Beaux-Arts ; Strasbourg, musée d'art moderne et contemporain , Quimper, musée des Beaux Arts, .
. In Switzerland: Geneva, Petit Palais.
. In the USA: Cleveland, Museum of Art; San Francisco; Washington, Smithsonian American Museum.
Dimensions: 73 x 76 cm
With frame: 93 x 96 cm
Bears on the back an exhibition label with number 382:
-" Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA"
Provenance: Sale of March 30, 1995- Me Claude Boisgirard - Paris - "Collection d'oeuvres de Louis Legrand de Mr et Mme V"
Our painting was featured on the cover of the sale catalog.
Louis Legrand delivers here a work of bold composition, the prerogative of the great masters. Painted with sobriety and spontaneity, the artist suggests rather than describes; his line is both firm and vibrant.
He makes use of light and plays with colored parts and others drawn without color. Although an economy of means characterizes the painting, the scene is lively and the artist subtly takes us into the intimacy of this relaxing scene, offering us a moment suspended in time.
Louis Legrand depicts here two young women in an interior listening to the piano. The painter has chosen to depict the third figure, the pianist, with only his back to view. This unusual framing, which cuts off a figure at the edge of the picture, aims to give the scene a realistic, natural effect
The interior is sober; a sofa, a chair, a small table and the pianist's swivel stool make up the décor.
The focus is on the characters, and in particular on the young redheaded woman at the center of the composition. Light from the left illuminates her, drawing the viewer's eye to her shimmering hair and brilliantly beaded necklace. Her friend on the right is drawn in thick, vibrant strokes. Some very feminine details like the necklace, a ring, a bracelet, a small handbag, white gloves and the white shoes that appear under the pianist's seat enhance the scene.
Bibliography
Louis Legrand was born in Dijon in 1963. Painter, watercolorist, engraver and illustrator, he is a multi-faceted artist.
After training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, he went to Paris in 1884 and became a student of the brilliant and sulphurous Félicien Rops, who introduced him to various techniques, including engraving.
The master appreciated his pupil's skills. In an 1888 letter from Félicien Rops to Mr. Roques, director of the weekly "Le courrier français", he refers to "Louis Legrand's precious and rare qualities, dominated by an extraordinary love of modelling", and writes: "You can imagine that it never occurred to me to teach this fellow anything! Legrand set out unaided, like ducklings going to the pond, to make beautiful drawings that attracted the attention of artists and amateurs alike."
From 1902 onwards, the artist took part in the Paris Salons des Beaux Arts and the 1900 Universal Exhibition, where he won a medal.
He also exhibited at the Samuel Bing gallery, then in 1904 at the Georges Petit gallery. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1906.
In 1911, the Durand-Ruel gallery presented a major retrospective of his work.
Before Toulouse-Lautrec, he depicted Parisian nightlife of the Belle Epoque, lively cafés, women, cancan dancers.
The Moulin Rouge ballroom in Paris was the artist's studio for a long time.
The art publisher and collector Gustave Pellet published 300 engravings for him and bought all his pastels. He also engraved erotic subjects for him.
He is the painter of "gay eroticism".
He is present in numerous private collections
Bibliography
. Camille Mauclair, Louis Legrand, peintre et graveur, Floury, Paris 1910
. Dictionnaire des illustrateurs-1800-1914, Idé et Calande, Neufchatel, Paris 1989
. Bénézit, "Louis Legrand", Oxford Art Online
Museums
. In France: Dijon, musée national Magnin and musée des Beaux-Arts ; Strasbourg, musée d'art moderne et contemporain , Quimper, musée des Beaux Arts, .
. In Switzerland: Geneva, Petit Palais.
. In the USA: Cleveland, Museum of Art; San Francisco; Washington, Smithsonian American Museum.
18 000 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Art Deco
Condition: Good condition
Material: Oil painting on cardboard
Width: 76 cm
Height: 73 cm
Reference (ID): 1733319
Availability: In stock
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