Kees van Dongen

Sale: Palais Galliera, Paris, 12th December 1973 (titled Le vieux port à Cannes and illustrated on the cover of the catalogue)
Kunsthandel M. L. de Boer, Amsterdam (purchased at the above sale)
Acquired from the above by the family of the present owner in 1973

Laren, Holland, Singer Museum, 1976

Edouard des Courières, Van Dongen, Paris, 1925, illustrated pl. 65 (titled Le port de Cannes)

The canvas is not lined. There are some thin lines of retouching at intermittent intervals to the edges, probably to cover old frame-rubbing, some small spots of retouching to the upper centre, some small spots of retouching to the centre right and a nailhead-sized spot of retouching to the centre, all visible under UV light. Apart from some light craquelure to the areas of thicker paint application and a light stretcher mark horizontal to the centre, this work is in very good condition.
"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."

Following years of success in the Paris art world painting society portraits out of the rue Ravigan in Paris, Kees Van Dongen could finally afford to buy a house in Cannes. Throughout the 1920s, inspired by his new surroundings, the artist continued to explore the theme of the seafront and the society classes surrounding Cannes harbour. A life of leisure amonst the rowers and the yachts is apparent in Cannes, Le Port, where the artist's great enthusiasm for his subject shines through.

Van Dongen's pioneering work as a colourist is greatly evident in the present painting with the tone of the blue serving as a mid-point around which the highlights of red and green can pierce. However, it is as a composition that this work really stands out. Here, Van Dongen is at his most innovative and playful with the bold line of the sail running across the work in a diagonal; splitting the composition into two parts. The rigging of the two green boats in the backround act as a counterpoint to the main image and perfectly balances the whole. Numerous other cues relating to the balance of the picture are carefully applied, such as the curved horizon and the marine birds flying to the top left. Each object is a structural part of the whole that forms a truly stunning, joyous image of this famous coastline.

COMP: Van Dongen strolling along the seafront at Cannes with Bibi and Jacques Henri Lartigue in February 1923

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