Offered by Poncelin de Raucourt Fine Arts
REQUEST INFORMATION
Paintings and drawings, from 16th to 19th century
Henri Lebasque (1865-1937)
Women with Parasols
Pencil, smudging, and watercolor highlights on paper, 27 x 24 cm.
Provenance:
Private Collection
Henri Lebasque, a French artist from the turn of the 20th century, is often associated with the Post-Impressionist movement and the Paris School. A friend of notable figures such as Henri Matisse, he masterfully captured a sense of intimacy and tenderness in his works, often inspired by domestic or leisure scenes, while subtly exploring light and color. Influenced by Impressionism and Fauvism, his work reflects a quest for harmony and tranquility in a world undergoing rapid change.
In Women with Parasols, Lebasque presents two nude female figures reclining carelessly, sheltered from the sun by lightly sketched parasols. The drawing, of great delicacy, is rendered in pencil with subtly smudged shading, emphasizing the sensuality of the bodies. The addition of soft red watercolor highlights on the parasols brings a touch of color that enlivens the composition while remaining minimalist.
The treatment of the female body, smooth and gentle, demonstrates Lebasque's sensitivity in depicting the human form, while evoking a certain hedonism typical of the era. This work, both intimate and elegant, conveys a moment of relaxation, characteristic of his outdoor leisure scenes.
