Thomas François Cartier (1879–1936) – Siamese Cat – Pastel And Gouache On Board – 1933

Thomas François CARTIER (1879–1936)
Siamese Cat – 1933
Pastel and gouache on board
Signed, dated and dedicated to his friend Yves Paret

A very fine and rare original work by Thomas François Cartier, a French artist primarily renowned for his important body of animal sculpture.

Executed in 1933, only three years before the artist’s death, this generously sized work depicts a majestic seated Siamese cat, rendered with remarkable presence and great graphic elegance.

Cartier gives the animal a commanding role, occupying almost the entire composition. The pale, powerful body of the Siamese stands out dramatically against a background of soft, muted tones, while the reddish-brown foreground brings depth and warmth to the composition.

The treatment of the fur is particularly interesting. The artist uses numerous light, rapid and energetic strokes to gradually reveal the volumes, musculature and texture of the animal’s coat. The dark mask, ears and paws, and above all the long black tail forming a sweeping curve across the foreground, give the composition remarkable graphic strength.

The work possesses the distinctive elegance of the 1930s, with a stylisation of the subject and a restrained composition that fully evoke the spirit of the Art Deco period.

The history of the work further enhances its interest. It is signed and dated 1933 by Thomas François Cartier and bears a personal dedication to his friend Yves Paret.

Yves Paret, born in 1901, belonged, according to family tradition, to Cartier’s circle of friends. The work subsequently remained within his family and was passed down by descent to its present owner. A family document relating to Yves Paret has also been preserved.

This long-standing and direct provenance gives the work a particularly appealing character: it is not simply a signed animal work, but a piece personally dedicated by Cartier to one of his friends and preserved within the recipient’s family.

Thomas François Cartier remains particularly sought after today for his sculptures of dogs, felines and wild animals. His original works on paper and board are encountered far less frequently, and this composition is distinguished by its size, subject, date and provenance.

The work is executed in pastel and gouache on board. It is presented under glass in its original period frame, which still bears on the reverse the label of G. Debenais, Fabrique générale d’encadrements, Bordeaux.

Some signs of age and wear are visible on the original frame, which we have chosen to preserve for its authenticity and historical interest.

Sight dimensions: 60 × 45 cm
Dimensions including frame: 70 × 55 cm

Provenance: former collection of Yves Paret, a friend of Thomas François Cartier according to family tradition; subsequently passed down through the family to the present owner.

A rare and characterful animal work, elegant and highly decorative, and particularly representative of the aesthetic of the 1930s.