199 - Studies of Heads and Figures, Study for *La Princesse Maleine*, Study for *Saint-Philippe du Roule*, 1891

Studies of Heads and Figures, Study for *La Princesse Maleine*, Study for *Saint-Philippe du Roule*, 1891 Set of fifteen drawings Pencil, pen and black ink, black chalk on papers mounted on a sheet of paper From 5 x 3 cm to 14 x 10 cm (the drawings) 32 x 24 cm (the mounting sheet) Annotated on the mounting sheet: St. Philippe du Roule, May ’91; The Minuet from *La Princesse Maleine*—Portrait ’91 Provenance: Maurice Denis Collection Private collection *La Princesse Maleine* is the very first play published by the Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck in 1889. After her engagement to Prince Hjalmar is broken off, Princess Maleine is locked away by her father in a dark tower. When she finally manages to escape with her nurse, she discovers a kingdom in ruins under the rule of an evil queen. Although she is reunited with her fiancé, the stifling atmosphere and ominous portents foreshadow the worst. The victim of a conspiracy and crushed by an invisible fate, the princess meets a tragic end at the heart of this Symbolist drama. In October 1891, Denis wrote in his journal, regarding Marthe: “She rereads *La Princesse Maleine* until two in the morning. She is pale, on edge, affectionate. — Pain for me, and still more doubts. Always doubts. Never mind, that’s life.” (Journal, I, p. 87).