5 - Marie Laurencin (1883–1956)

Marie Laurencin (1883–1956) Early sketch Graphite and colored pencils on paper bearing the artist’s monogram stamp in the lower right corner 14 x 12 cm Provenance: > SGL Auctions, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, February 24, 2024, lot no. 55 > Private collection, Paris Condition report: Framed This drawing illustrates the world imbued with poetry, gentleness, and melancholy characteristic of the artist, a major female figure of the École de Paris. The composition features a full-length androgynous figure, sketched with great economy of means and infinite delicacy of line. True to the artist’s visual vocabulary, the work favors pastel and ethereal tones, where shades of gray combine with subtle touches of yellow to make the figure emerge from the light background. This graphic treatment, which emphasizes suggestion over description, captures a timeless and theatrical atmosphere that reflects the artist’s enduring interest in the worlds of performance, dance, and ballet sets.