385 - Raymond PEYNET (1908–1999)

Raymond PEYNET (1908–1999) "The Little Romantic" Mixed media on paper Signed lower right Annotated in pencil with "And why shouldn’t there be lovers on another planet? ..." at the bottom 31.5 x 24.7 cm (Signs of wear, retouching, stains) Description: Illustrator and poster artist Raymond Peynet (1908–1999) owes his fame to *Les Amoureux*, created in 1942 at the bandstand in Valence: a poet and violinist joined by a young admirer—an innocent couple who became one of the defining images of France from the 1950s to the 1970s. Trained at the Germain-Pilon School, he published in *Ric et Rac*, *Le Rire*, *Elle*, and *Paris-Match*, where his tender style stood in contrast to Albert Dubout’s caricatural wit. Georges Brassens acknowledged his debt to him for *Les Amoureux des bancs publics*, and his characters appeared on Rosenthal porcelain, posters, and stamps. This drawing, accompanied by a dreamy caption, illustrates the artist’s poetic and cheerful style; museums in Antibes and Brassac-les-Mines are dedicated to him.