Henri Coutant (1868–1935) The Bridge At Avignon. School Of Crozant, La Châtre, Maillaud, Nigond, Rue

A very beautiful and fairly rare oil on canvas-backed cardboard by Henri Coutant, depicting the famous Saint-Bénézet Bridge in Avignon around 1920–1930; signed lower right, with a location note on the reverse, and marked “La Châtre Indre.”
Dimensions of the painting alone (unframed): 24x33 cm; 31x42 cm including the frame
The painting is in good original condition and comes in an antique frame, though not from the period.
Authenticity guaranteed.

This is a beautiful Post-Impressionist composition by Henri Coutant, depicting the famous bridge in Avignon during one of his stays in Provence. Naturally, he employs his characteristic, highly Impressionist brushwork, as well as his palette, in which blues and mauves dominate—here complemented by ochres, oranges, grayish whites, and yellows....

Henri Coutant was a lawyer and painter from the Berry region, closely associated with the circle of Fernand Maillaud and Henri Jamet, painters who would influence his work. Like them, he is now considered part of the famous Crozant school, as he naturally painted his beloved region, Berry—and more specifically the area around La Châtre, his village—but he also traveled to paint along the banks of the Creuse River. He also made frequent trips to Provence and the French Riviera. 

He eventually became part of the circle of friends and artists of the early 20th century in the village of Verneuil-sur-Igneraie (near La Châtre) at a place called “Les Épingués.” Poets, painters, and sculptors gathered in the house occupied by the poet Gabriel NIGOND (1877–1937) and his friend, the painter Fernand Maillaud (1862–1948).
The atmosphere of this house cannot be reduced to the presence of a few “well-known” figures ” (Ernest Nivet, Hugues Lapaire, Joseph Ageorges, Henri Coutant, Paul Rue, or Gabrielle SAND, the granddaughter of the novelist); the artists also maintained close ties with the villagers, particularly the master potters of Verneuil.
Coutant is listed in the book on the Crozant school on page 157.