Drawing Woman Sign Andre Dignimont 1891-1965

French work, early 20th century period Superb drawing representing a woman seated on an armchair reading a book, by the famous artist André Dignimont (1891-1965) Notable figure of Montmatre. Signed lower left by the artist, in its original frame. Biography: André Dignimont is a French illustrator, painter and engraver, born on August 22, 1891 in Paris where he died on February 4, 19651. Notable figure of Montmartre, he is renowned for his prints and his light illustrations dedicated to female beauty. The son of a wine merchant, André Dignimont first studied with the Oratorians at the college in Juilly before studying language in England (Craven College in Beckenham, in Kent, where he had the future actor André as a colleague. Luguet with whom he will remain a friend3). The return to France in 1911 led him to seven years of regiment: three years of military service, four years of war4. André Dignimont was then a student of Tony Robert-Fleury at the Académie Julian. Settled in Montmartre, he then led "the joyful life of the rapins" (from which dates his nickname "the Great Dig" which will remain with him) in the company of fellow students and friends, notably Jean-Gabriel Domergue, Roger de la Fresnaye, Louis Marcoussis, Robert Lotiron and André Warnod5. His career which spanned more than four decades, leading him as well to the portrait and the female nude (watercolors, drawings and prints, Dignimont not painting on canvas) as to the illustration of books and theater decor, thereby binding to painters, writers (Colette, Francis Carco, Pierre Mac Orlan) and actors. In 1927, he left Montmartre to settle permanently at 1, rue Boutarel which, passionate about the flea market, he will make a museum of unusual objects6. It was later that André Dignimont began to take an interest in the landscape, encouraged in this by André Dunoyer de Segonzac, who came there as naturally by his walks in Paris, also by his summer resorts which Françoise Py-Chereau reproduces7: chez l lawyer-academician Maurice Garçon in Ligugé in Poitou, in Yonne with Jules Cavaillès, in Saint-Tropez with Colette, in Equemauville near Honfleur with Henri Jeanson8, also near Paimpol where Betty de Mauduit makes her chateau Bourblanc a place of artistic and literary reception where Dignimont can find Pierre Benoit, Joseph Kessel, Francis Carco and Louis Touchagues9. Colette reveals it: "When I want to be alone with you, I politely dismiss your acrobats, your sailors and your non-commissioned officers with cherry mouths, I say sorry to your sweet feminine cattle, I turn to corner of an empty house whose shutter beats, peacefully stained with blood, and I meet you bent over a flowered cul-de-lamp - Jeanette's hearts, daffodils and columbines mixed (let's not forget the forget-me-not!) that you are painting careful, moved and dreamy like an old girl ”10. He illustrated newspapers such as Le Rire, Demain, Monsieur - Review of elegance, good manners and everything that interests Monsieur, Le Crapouillot, Le Sourire, Femina, La Gazette du Bon Ton, La Guirlande, Comœdia, Flirt. .. In addition to his job as an illustrator and painter, he played secondary roles in cinema (see Roles of Dignimont in cinema below) and was a member of the Cannes Festival jury (chaired by Marcel Pagnol) 1955. André Dignimont died in Paris on February 4, 1965. His grave, in the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris (27th division), is decorated with a bronze medallion with his portrait sculpted by Paul Belmondo. His wife died on February 28, 1981. "A strange whim of fate! Since adolescence, Dignimont has only frequented musette balls, sailors' bars, brothels salons, or to pay homage to him, his works are gathered in the golden salons of an official palace. The wing of his felt folded over the eye and cigarette in the beak, he would not have dared to enter. "