Jules Pascin

Engel Galleries, Jerusalem (by 1986)
Acquired from the above

Abel Rambert et al., Pascin, Catalogue raisonné, peintures, aquarelles, pastels dessins, vol. II, Paris, 1987, no. 295, illustrated p. 84

The medium is brush and ink on paper. The bottom edge measures slightly smaller than the top: 12 1/8 by 7 1/4 in.; 32/2 by 18.7 cm. The sheet is attached to the mat backing at the top corners verso. The edges are visible in the current matting. There are hard creases in the lower right and left corners, and the extreme lower left corner is curling upwards somewhat. There are small nicks along the left edge. There is a very faint soft horizontal crease about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the sheet, extending inwards from the left edge, about halfway across the work. There are some minor handling creases and marks. The right edge is curling upwards slightly. The sheet has darkened slightly from exposure to light. The medium is crisp, the work presents well.
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This strong ink portrait depicts Hermine David, Jules Pascin's wife and muse, and a very talented artist in her own right with a particular gift for miniatures and printmaking. David and Pascin met in 1907 in Paris when they both moved in burgeoning arts scene now known as the Ecole de Paris. They married in 1918 after moving to New York City where they remained until 1923, during which time Hermine exhibited her own artwork regularly. Throughout their relationship, Pascin depicted Hermine in paintings and drawings with an almost obsessive frequency. While she served as her husband's model and inspiration, Hermine continued to avidly pursue her own artistic career. She exhibited at the Salon d'Automne, the Salon des Indépendants, and the Galerie Weil. Even after their separation in 1920, David enjoyed Pasin's contined support and encouragement, as well as a close friendship with his new partner Lucy Krohg, until Pascin's untimely death in 1930. Pascin left his estate to be divided between the two women, and Hermine ultimately allowed Lucy more say in its management. The inscription on the present work "Hermine - dessin de Pascin au pinceau" is in Lucy's hand. Hermine David received the Legion d'Honneur in 1932, and continued to work until her death in 1970.