Gauguin, Sérusier, Boudin, and other Masters from the Long Collection

O dilon Redon’s exquisite still-life compositions of floral arrangements constitute the hallmark of the artist’s œuvre. This painting is executed in pastel and is a prime example of this defining motif, with the inherent fragile quality of the medium perfectly reflecting the delicate subject matter. In this masterful composition, Redon brings the floral composition to life, balancing texture and contrast, and enlivening the sheet with vibrant bursts of colour.

Paul Sérusier’s depiction of two young peasant women at the edge of the winding river Aulne, just below Châteauneuf-du-Faou, is a wonderful synthesis of some of Sérusier’s most characteristic works from his Pont-Aven period. Sérusier frequently made use of unknown female subjects, and throughout his time in Brittany this trope was frequently utilised. In the present work these forms are imagined with a particularly elegant, simplified palette set amongst strongly outlined forms and vibrant colours. These specific stylistic motifs, which the artist developed during his involvement with the Pont-Aven group, were heavily influenced by his introduction to Gauguin’s Symbolist aesthetic in the late 1880s.

Throughout the 1870s, Eugène Boudin made frequent trips to the coastal towns of northern France, and the low Countries, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of these ports and beaches. Boudin was a devotee of painting en plein air and passionately argued that painting outside helped him capture the essence of a scene.

The direct experience of the environment gained through painting en plain air, provides an enhanced immediacy and depth to the work. In Anvers, gros temps sur l'Escaut, Boudin employs a low horizon line, allowing the composition to be dominated by the dramatic sky, typical of Boudin's confident brushwork.

Artist

Eugène Louis Boudin

Paul Gauguin’s Bretonne de trois-quarts à gauche is a study for a figure in Bretonnes causant, a masterpiece depicting four Breton women talking over the low dividing wall of a field. Both works reveal Gauguin’s concerted interest in the work of Japanese woodblock printers, known as ukiyo-e.

The works produced during his initial stay in Pont-Aven incorporated a combination of typically Breton subjects with Impressionism and japonisme. The present work is a timeless work from a period of great experimentation and development in Gauguin’s work, and provides an illuminating insight into his working process.

Artist

Paul Gauguin

For over three decades Joe and Teresa Long have been pillars of their community in Austin, Texas. Through their generosity, philanthropy and community leadership, they have had a profound impact on the educational landscape of their native Texas. Together, the couple created The Long Foundation in 1999 to promote programs that provide opportunities for young Texans to build upon their potential, as well as that of their communities. Alongside education, the couple has been dedicated to improving healthcare, both in terms of access and resources, and they have donated over $60 million to University of Texas Health, which has provided more than 290 scholarships and contributed to continued improvements to the facility.

Past Auction

Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale

5 February 2020 | 10:30 AM GMT | London