Edward CUCUEL (1875-1954) Near the Hawthorns / Am Rotdorn Oil on canvas, signed lower right, countersigned on verso and titled in German Am Rotdorn" on the stretcher. Hole, heavy soiling. 78 x 78 cm Édouard Cucuel (1875-1954) was born in San Francisco, California. At an early age, he showed talent for drawing and decided to move to France to pursue his artistic studies. He studied at the Académie Julian, the Académie Colarossi and and then became a pupil of Jean-Léon Gérôme at the Académie des Beaux-Arts. These experiences perfected his technique and steered him towards Impressionist painting. In 1907, he moved to Germany, where his friendship with the painter Léo Putz, he joined the Munich Secession. Cucuel loved to paint en plein air, and was particularly particularly fascinated by the play of light and color effects found in nature. in nature. His canvases often depict scenes of daily life, women in moments of in moments of relaxation and pleasure, whether reading, strolling or bathing. bathing. These scenes, imbued with a sense of serenity a celebration of femininity and nature, two recurring themes in his work. He chose idyllic settings - riverbanks, lush gardens and sunny beaches - where women women, dressed in light, elegant gowns, seemed to blend harmoniously into their surroundings. environment. Light, often soft and golden plays a central role in his compositions, creating subtle contrasts and enhancing the grace the grace of his subjects.