14 - Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 1887 – 1965, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France), “Baigneuse assise” (Seated Bather), 1933, pen-and-ink drawing in sepia on yellowish vélin, signed and dated lower left, 31 x 21 cm, mounted under glass with a mat in a simple black lacquered frame, overall dimensions: 59.5 x 47 cm. Limit 6,750 The year 1933 marks the beginning of Le Corbusier’s so-called “Femmes period.” During this time, the world-famous architect and painter increasingly turned his attention to organic, human forms, having previously painted primarily geometric still lifes in the spirit of purist Cubism. Le Corbusier was fascinated by the sinuous rhythms and sensual forms he had encountered in Picasso’s monumental neoclassicism as well as during his travels to Algeria in 1931 and 1933. Just like Picasso, Le Corbusier now employed an extremely reduced line style. A single, thick pen or ink stroke often defines the entire curve of a hip or shoulder and is combined with coarse hatching to depict shading. Thus, this drawing also displays those bold, flowing contour lines and hatching characteristic of Le Corbusier, which lend the figures a sculptural weight as well as great plasticity.