Ker Xavier Roussel (1867-1944), Naked Nymph

Ker Xavier Roussel (1867-1944) Naked nymph Pastel signed lower right with the initials as usual and dated lower right 04. Size: 19 x 29 cm (at sight) Size with frame: 41 x 50.5 cm Note: sheet probably cut in the two upper corners (not framed). On the back several labels appear, the back of the original frame has been reattached to this frame, to note the annotation at the top right of "vente Fénéon". Félix Fénéon is an important art critic of the late 19th century who owned several works by the artist but also by Signac, Cross, Vuillard, Degas, Bonnard and many others. An interesting work because from 1901, Ker Xavier Roussel exhibited mythological scenes populated by nymphs and fauns. He discovered the midday in 1905. His palette cleared up. The touch is lively, the colors warm. Here he uses pure drips in a very acid green to contrast and give relief to the work. It is not easy to see it in the photo, but there are highlights of white and also pink on the hand, face and torso. Linked from adolescence to Edouard Vuillard, who would become his brother-in-law, Ker Xavier Roussel first attended the Julian academy. There he meets Bonnard, Maurisce Denis, Ranson, Sérusier. The latter strives to spread the theories of Gauguin on synthetism, advocating the collected and surrounded forms, which will inspire the Nabis movement. From 1891 to 1894 Ker Xavier Roussel joined the Nabis group and participated in their demonstrations. In 1897 he was taken over by Vollard. Around 1900 his dealer was Jos Hessel at the Galerie Bernheim. He discovered noon in 1905. His palette cleared up. The touch is lively, the colors warm. He paints a happy universe detached from reality, animated by a fantasy mythology, a pantheistic vision of an imaginary world, everyday and chimerical at the same time.