82. A pupil (Portrait of Raiera Nacu-Ziloti) [1948]

The backside of the work offers us precious details regarding both the identity of the protagonist and the context in which this work was made. In 1948, Raira Nacu-Ziloti was a "fourth year student at the Academy of Fine Arts in the workshop of master C. Ressu." It's also revealed that "during the vacation of 1948, the more passionate students worked day by day in the workshop." Among them was the young painter eager to practice her brushwork. However, she managed to also spark the interest of her master and thereby also took on the role of the model. At the time of the creation of this work, there were also other artists present in the workshop, such as Afane (Ștefan) Teodoreanu, the son of novelist Ionel Teodoreanu; Traian Trestioreanu, Velisaratu, or the architect professors Simota and Constantin Iotzu. However, Raira Nacu-Ziloti is not the only student immortalized by Ressu in his canvases. Among the portraits made by the artist, we also note the faces of Ileana Micodin (1942-1943), Sabina Florian (1943-1944), Rodica Ciocârdel (1948), Lucreția Ionescu (1948), all members of the generation of the '40s; and also the portraits of some women painters who made their mark at the time - Natalia Dumitrescu, Nina Arbore or Ada Geo Medrea. Although he dedicated a detailed study to rural life, with villages, houses, and blooming nature, Camil Ressu also gravitated towards delving into human psychology through this type of composition. The artist portrays the human figure in a broad, sometimes even monumental manner, as he constructs his nudes. In addition to a remarkable technical execution of the drawing, we also notice his talent as a colorist, but above all, we distinguish the psychological qualities of the artist endowed with a great power of analyzing human behavior. The vigorous brushwork and the carefully chosen tones, in full accordance with the internal tumult of the characters, reveal the artist as a very good connoisseur of human nature. The artist had sufficient time to dissect, investigate, and interpret the human condition from his role as a pedagogue. Camil Ressu began his teaching activity on April 1, 1925, at the School of Art in Bucharest. The organization process of the class hours, with everything that involves study themes or corrections, was also added a hard exercise of identifying the most efficient way to communicate with the students. Ressu's professorial activity within the Academy harmoniously intertwined with the presidency of the Union of Plastic Artists. In the works dedicated to his female students in 1948, the artist primarily focuses on their faces, placing them in the foreground of the canvas. He uses shades of gray for composing the backgrounds and relies especially on the contrast with the attire and the faces of his models. In this work, the background is well delimited by the black contours highlighting Raira's bust. The blonde hair and red blouse, together with the light complexion, but also the gaze directed outside the canvas towards an uncertain focal point, or the serious expression of the protagonist indicate the strong, unshakeable personality of the artist's muse.

References

The catalogue for the retrospective exhibition "Camil Ressu. Painting and Graphics", Doina Schobel, Bucharest, 1982.

Dimensions

width 32.5 cm, height 47.5 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed lower right, "C. Ressu"; dated and located on verso, "1948, Bucharest"

Lot.notes

On the back, noted: "Fourth year student at the Academy of Fine Arts in the workshop of Master C. Ressu. During the 1948 vacation, the more passionate students worked day by day in the workshop. Thus, they were present when the portrait of the painters: Afane Teodoreanu (the son of the novelist [Ionel Teodoreanu]), Traian Trestioreanu and others were painted. Also, working in the workshop: Painter Velisaratu, Architect Prof. Simota, Prof. Arch. Constantin Iotzu."

Dating

1948

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