Raoul Dufy

Carl-Eric Björkegren, Stockholm (and sold: Sotheby’s, London, June 26, 1991, lot 164)
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Work is in very good condition. Canvas is not lined. There are some isolated cracks in the large green frond toward upper right. Under UV light: no inpainting is apparent.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Rendered in a brilliant palette dominated by rich yellow and verdant tones, Nu dans un paysage is a resplendent example of Dufy’s mastery as a colorist. One cannot lay eyes on a work from this period of Dufy’s career and not be struck by the associations with the art of Matisse, especially with his Fauve masterpiece Le Bonheur de vivre, also an Arcadian landscape populated with nudes. Dufy's technique and selected imagery were very much his own. Known to his contemporaries as "the enchanter," Dufy found further inspiration in the way forms and colors were transformed by light, a theme which strongly resonated with many of his artistic forbearers. Dora Perez-Tibi noted that in his early years, "[Dufy] had become aware of the need to recreate observed reality in terms of his own ‘reality,’ and went on to elaborate his theory of ‘couleur-lumière,’ with which he experimented, and which he would apply to his entire oeuvre" (Dora Perez-Tibi, Dufy, New York, 1989, pp. 23-24).



Fanny Guillon-Laffaille has kindly confirmed that this work will be included second supplement of the Catalogue raisonné de l'Oeuvre peint de Raoul Dufy currently in preparation.