Alix AYMÉ (1894-1989)

Lot 21
Go to lot
Estimation :
180000 - 220000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 309 840EUR
Alix AYMÉ (1894-1989)
Portrait de Thi Ba, circa 1935 Oil on canvas, signed lower right 81 x 60 cm - 31 7/8 x 23 5/8 in. ALIX AYMÉ Student of Maurice Denis, with whom she corresponded throughout her career, Alix Aymé conceived a passion for the Asian continent on her first trip there with her husband, when he was sent on a mission to China by the French government. She then spent over twenty years travelling in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Appointed professor at the Fine Arts School of Hanoi, she contributed to the revival of lacquer work with Inguimberty. Her works reflect the style of both the Nabis (a great influence on her) and traditional Vietnamese painting, for which she developed a deep affection.   Alix Aymé was commissioned by the French government to produce paintings for the Laos pavilion at the 1931 Universal Exhibition, but in her studio she never stopped working to capture the Indochinese essence that surrounds her. Hard-working, passionate and curious, she endeavored to immortalize the people around her. If Portrait de Thi Ba, stands out from the classical productions, it takes up all the codes of composition works where attention is paid to every detail. The pensive young girl seated in three-quarter view has her head slightly lowered and eyes tilted downwards. Her beautiful and slender hands, are quietly one on top of the other, about to move. The shy and dictated attitude of the model recalls the innocence of her age. Far from the somewhat sensual nude model, this lovely young girl with a sober outfit has a touching candor. All in simplicity, dressed in a white shirt with a tight fit and long hair loose, she embodies the sweetness of childhood, devoid of superficiality. The construction of the decor recalls the artist’s careful study of composition. A hanging fabric is carelessly thrown on the right, joining a curtain on the left side: the artist plays with contrasts of materials and movements. Only an armchair completes this décor, ensuring a simple reading. Being a former student of Maurice Denis, Alix Aymé adopts a Nabi palette where colors bloom with joy while maintaining a certain harmony. Crimson, peach pink and aqua on the draperies mingle with the off-white of the shirt, delicately bringing out the black of the pants and the midnight blue highlights of the hair. Thanks to a shimmering chromatic range with skillful reflections, but also to a model with a disarming softness, Alix Aymé immortalizes her vision of an Indochina which will make her say “The general impression that one has of Laos is certainly not that of a rich country, but of a simple and happy country”.
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue