541 - Louis Valtat (1869, Dieppe – Paris, 1952)

Louis Valtat (1869, Dieppe – Paris, 1952) La Maison Oil on canvas. (1909). Approx. 73.5 x 92 cm. Signed lower right. Valtat 734. • A characteristic work from Valtat’s Fauvist-influenced creative phase • Vibrant, high-contrast colors and powerful brushwork • From the important collection of the Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard The painting “La Maison,” created in 1909, is closely linked to Valtat’s exploration of the intense, Fauvist-influenced color painting of the early 20th century. Since the late 1890s, the artist had regularly spent extended periods in the south of France, first in Agay, later in Anthéor. At the same time, he also spent the summer months in Normandy. In 1909, he worked in Port-en-Bessin and Arromanches, among other places. It cannot yet be determined with certainty whether “La Maison” was created there. In “La Maison,” color becomes the defining artistic element. While the house and architecture remain clearly defined in space, the surrounding vegetation dissolves into densely applied, bold swaths of color and short brushstrokes. Red, green, blue, and yellow stand side by side, lending the landscape its distinctive luminosity. The intense color palette is combined with a clearly representational composition. Of particular significance for the painting is its early provenance. It is part of the collection of the Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard. Around 1900, Vollard began a close business relationship with Valtat and, over the years, acquired a large portion of his works. Provenance: Ambroise Vollard, Paris, with exhibition label on the reverse; Sotheby’s, New York, November 4, 1993, Lot 366; Private collection, acquired from the aforementioned; Christie’s, New York, May 2, 2012, Lot 432; Private collection, Northern Germany, acquired from the aforementioned. Taxation: subject to margin scheme (VAT: Margin Scheme).