Kees van Dongen

Galerie Fleury, Nîmes
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1992

The canvas is not lined and there appear to be no signs of retouching visible under UV light. Apart from some craquelure, mainly to the sky and the sail (visible in the catalogue illustration), this work is in good original condition. Colours: Overall fairly accurate, although slightly more subtle and richer in the original.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

By the 1920s, Van Dongen's Fauvist portraits of the denizens of the Parisian beau monde had brought him both fame and commercial success. His newfound wealth enabled him to acquire a villa in Cannes, and throughout the rest of his career, picturesque landscapes and seascapes featuring boats sailing figure regularly in his oeuvre. These bright, cheerful works show another side of an artist notorious for his lurid depictions of high society women and bohemian Paris. La voile bleu suggests an artist at leisure, revelling in the bright blues afforded by the combination of the Mediterranean sunlight and the azure sea. There is a sense of luminous repose to the painting that brings to mind the work of Matisse, who was also inspired to create art characterised by colour and calm by the Mediterranean light.

Fig. 1, Kees Van Dongen with his wife Marie-Claire and a friend in Cannes, 1938