The Review
Impressionist & Modern Art
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

 

 

Georges Rouault or The Music of the Brush
 

The Impressionist & Modern Art department at Aguttes, in collaboration with the Paris office, is proud to present for sale four major works by Georges Rouault, an emblematic artist of the 20th century. These three oils, complemented by a unique ceramic painted by the artist, bear witness to the richness and depth of his inspiration.

Georges Rouault (1871–1958), a former student of Gustave Moreau, established himself as a central figure in modern art, combining technical mastery with religious and social sensitivity. His works, with vibrant colors edged in black, explore universal themes such as faith and the poetry of everyday life.
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The three paintings to be offered in the upcoming June Impressionist Art sale perfectly illustrate this duality :
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- Fleurs décoratives, 1950: a still life with a fiery palette celebrating the enduring beauty of nature and the painter’s affection for his wife.​
- Automne, circa 1946: a secular scene in muted tones, imbued with quiet spirituality.​
- Vieux faubourg (Christ en croix), 1951: an intense and moving composition at the heart of the Christian message, rendered with the artist’s uniquely expressive power.

 

The painted vase, dated 1911, features voluptuous bathers set against a black background.
 

These paintings and the ceramic piece, all extensively documented and exhibited on numerous occasions in France and abroad, offer collectors the opportunity to acquire works that embody the musicality of Rouault’s brush and are fully representative of his genius.

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Georges Rouault (1871–1958)
Fleurs décoratives, 1950
Oil and ink on parquet panel
Signed lower right
Dated '1950' at top center
67 x 54 cm (with frame)
45 x 32.5 cm

Provenance
Private collection, France

Exhibitions
- Georges Rouault, Milan, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, April–June 1954, no. 110
- Old and Modern Still Lifes, Rennes, Musée de Rennes, Sept 30–Nov 30, 1953, no. 55
- Georges Rouault, Paris, Musée National d'Art Moderne, July 9–Oct 26, 1952, no. 94
- Georges Rouault Retrospective, Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, and Amsterdam, Municipal Museum, March 21–May 1, 1952, no. 78

Bibliography
- Régis Ladous, Jean-Dominique Durand, Bernard Berthod, Georges Rouault, Enlightened Painter of Humanity, Chasselay: Éditions Scriptoria, 2013, pp. 87 & 93
- Bernard Dorival et Isabelle Rouault [catalogue raisonné réalisé par], L'Œuvre peint, Monte-Carlo : Éditions André Sauret, 1988, décrit sous le n°2462, p. 259
- Frantisek Zverina, Georges Rouault, Prague : SNKLU, 1961, n°8
- Lionello Venturi, Rouault, Paris : Skira, 1959, p. 111
- Somos Miklós, Rouault, Budapest : Corvina Kiadó, 1965, pl. 45

Georges Rouault (1871-1958)
Automne, circa 1946
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left
46,8 x 34,5 cm

Provenance
Private collection, France

Bibliography
- Lionello Venturi, Georges Rouault, Paris : Skira, 1948, p. 195, pl. 166
- Frantisek Zverina, Georges Rouault, Prague : SNKLU, 1961, n° 51
- Pierre Courthion, Georges Rouault, Paris : Flammarion, 1962, p. 452, n°523
- Pierre Courthion, Rouault, The Library of great painters, New York : Abrams, 1977, p. 144, n°43
- Pierre Courthion, Georges Rouault, Paris : NEF, 1971, pl. 43
- Pierre Courthion, Rouault, Les grands peintres, Paris : Éditions Cercle d'Art, 1980, p. 144, pl. 43
- Bernard Dorival et Isabelle Rouault [catalogue raisonné], L'Œuvre peint, Monte-Carlo : Éditions André Sauret, 1988, p. 228, n°2313

 Georges Rouault (1871-1958)
Vase aux baigneuses, 1911
Painted earthenware
Signed with monogram and dated '1911' on the base
30,5 cm

Provenance
Private collection, France

Bibliography
Olivier Nouaille & Olivier Rouault, Rouault, L’Œuvre peint, Paris: Fondation Georges Rouault, 2021, described and reproduced under no. 41-C068, p. 354 


Next Auction
Impressionist & Modern Art
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Public Viewing
Saturday, 14 June: 11 AM – 6 PM
Monday, 16 and Tuesday, 17 June: 10 AM – 1 PM and 2 PM – 6 PM
Wednesday, 18 June: 10 AM – 1 PM (by appointment)

For more information or to include a lot in our upcoming sales, contact :
Pierre-Alban Vinquant
+33 (0)1 47 45 08 20 - vinquant@aguttes.com