Symbolist School, The Young Flautist And The Bird, Watercolor

 French school early 20th century
The Young Flutist and the Bird,
bears a monogram on the lower right (see photograph please)
watercolor and gouache on paper
20.5 x 25.5 cm
framed : 34 x 39.5 cm

This scene is both dreamlike and enigmatic; it depicts a flutist making a crane dance, which is entirely typical of Symbolist art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It blends elements of classical antiquity — evident in the young woman’s clothing and the temple in the background — with more exotic elements, such as the crane, which likely originates from Japanese culture, which was very much in vogue at the time.

Léonce de Joncières (1871–1947) has been suggested as the artist; for example, his initials are believed to be in the monogram. One work that suggests this connection is 'Lesbia's Sparrow', which combines a scene from antiquity with a bird. In any case, the work clearly belongs to this period and cultural circle, which was strongly influenced by Symbolism.