113. Holiday in Esterel [1924]

Born in 1880 in Sétif in northeastern Algeria, Aubry would come into contact from a young age with the cultural diversity that he would experience in his homeland. Influenced by Spanish, French, Arab, or even Jewish cultures, the horizons of the budding artist will often be transposed into his canvases, especially among his early works. He will study in Paris, and instead of following medicine like his father, he will study at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts. He will gain the Grand Prix in Paris in 1905, and later a medal in 1907 in Rome, where he will remain fascinated by the work of Michelangelo. After the war, he will return to Paris, where he wins a gold medal in 1920 at the Paris Salon. He studied in the workshops of French artists Jean-Léon Gérôme and Gabriel Ferrier, where he took on both academic characteristics and influences of oriental painting, especially specific decorative motifs that he will integrate into his works. He was a member of the French Institute (1935) and regularly exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1905 to 1937. In 2003, his works were presented in a group exhibition of the L'Ecole d'Alger (School of Algeria) at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bordeaux. Emile Aubry's style is heavily influenced by the art-deco style, decorative, but also by elements of classic painting. His works focus on mythological, orientalist scenes, and also on portraits, and most often the female character will always be at the center. Whether they are represented in a state of reverie, taking a stroll, Aubry's characters will stand out for their individuality, color, and the naturalness with which they are depicted. In the work here we find a character in the French Riviera area, specifically on the banks of the St. Esterel rocks. Jovial and colorful, the woman at the center of the opera enjoys the sea breeze on a sunny day. She has a hairstyle specific to the 1920s, and her clothing appears to merge with the blue of the sea. The artist is not afraid of color and successfully juggles between light and shadows with just a few colors, highlighting the radiant character.

References

Aubry-Vasanova, Suzanne, "Emile Aubry, perspective of a painter", Espace Graphic Printing. Beautiful, 1997 Vidal-Bué, Marion, "Algiers and its painters 1830-1960", Ed. Paris Méditerranée, 2000

Dimensions

width 45.5 cm, height 59 cm

Description

ulei pe carton

Research information

A version of the work won the Gabriel Ferrier award, awarded by the Fine Arts Institute of France, 1922. A version of the work participated in the Official Salon, Paris, 1924. A version of the work is reproduced on the cover of the magazine "The Ladies Home Journal", 1925.

Dating

1924

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