1225 - DUPRÉ, JULIEN

DUPRÉ, JULIEN 1851 Paris–1910 Paris Title: “La Faneuse.” Date: Around 1896. Technique: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 60.5 x 73.5 cm. Inscription: Signed lower left: Julien Dupré. Frame: Framed. Certificate: Amy S. Rehs, Rehs Galleries, Inc., New York, April 1, 2026; original available. The painting is cataloged under inventory number W1085 in the digital catalogue raisonné: https://juliendupre.org/catalog-of-works/ The painting *La Faneuse* is one of the most characteristic themes in the work of Julien Dupré, who devoted some twenty paintings to this subject over the course of his career. The figure of the haymaker, depicted gathering hay in the fields, becomes in his paintings a striking symbol of the dignity of rural labor and the close connection between humanity and nature. Sometimes she appears alone, set against the vastness of the landscape; at other times she is accompanied by another figure—yet she always embodies a quiet, industrious everyday life, free from idealizing rhetoric and at the same time imbued with great human intensity. Dupré was one of the most significant representatives of 19th-century French Realism, a movement dedicated to the truthful depiction of contemporary life, particularly that of the working classes. In this context, his work follows in the tradition of artists such as Jules Breton and Jean-François Millet, with whom he shares an interest in the rural world and the depiction of agricultural labor. Nevertheless, Dupré is distinguished by a particularly vivid use of light and a painterly style that combines precise observation with immediate vividness. As a keen and attentive observer, he succeeded in capturing the atmosphere of the French countryside—particularly that of Normandy and Brittany—in a striking manner. In his paintings, the landscape is never merely a backdrop, but an integral part of the composition: it comes alive through nuanced lighting and a naturalistic rendering based on intensive observation of nature. The figure of the haymaker blends harmoniously into her surroundings and appears almost as an extension of the earth itself. In addition to depicting human figures, Dupré also distinguished himself as an outstanding animal painter. Even his contemporaries regarded him as one of the finest painters of farm animals of his era. His ability to depict horses, cattle, and other working animals with anatomical precision and, at the same time, with a fine sense of expression, enhances the authenticity of his rural scenes. To this day, Julien Dupré’s work is held in high esteem, particularly in the United States, where many of his paintings are housed in major museums and collections. This enduring reception attests to the timeless quality of his painting, which, with simplicity and depth, impressively brings a long-gone world to life. Provenance: - Private collection, Germany; Private collection, Switzerland. Estimated shipping costs for this lot: This lot is not suitable for parcel shipping. Transportation is available only through a shipping company, subject to consultation following the auction. Additional shipping insurance Shipping insurance up to a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: max. 41.65 euros over a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: 1.8 per thousand Shipping to the USA by individual arrangement after the auction. #Julien Dupré #France #Painting #Workers #Paintings.