119. At the piano

1912, Cluj - 1987, Paris

Estimate

EUR 1.200 - 1.800

Sold post auction

EUR 2.200

Session

Thu, 21 March 2024 19:00

Starting from impressionism and reaching the modern school of Paris, Francisc Gall extensively studies the compositional principles of drawing and excels in applying them in his works. The lyrical atmosphere of his paintings will be evident both in the works where his own children or his wife serve as models, and in those where we sometimes discover other characters. Francisc Gall will be a keen observer of the fashion of the time and will transcribe with devoted talent the details of his characters' outfits. He captures his protagonists at the café, at a picnic, playing the piano, dancing, or on the street or the beach. He finds his inspiration in simple things, taken from everyday life and immediate reality - a table, a chair, a vase of flowers or a piano will become the main subjects of his work. After studying in Rome and Paris, the artist will finally settle in France, and his work will begin to be appreciated abroad and will receive recognition from his hosts in the form of various distinctions. His palette begins to open up and take on the luminosity of the impressionists. His works become undeniable references to Marcel Proust's "jeunes filles en fleurs". The costumes and hairstyles corresponding to a past era, or the accessories such as umbrellas or capes, will capture human beauty in the eternity of the canvas. In this work, the artist resumes one of his favorite subjects: music, and especially the piano, which alongside his dance-dedicated works brings the Romanian painter closer to the work of the French artist Edgar Degas. We notice a preference for vibrant chromatics, composed of shades of pink, blue, or yellow, and also a predisposition for short, juxtaposed brushstrokes, which contribute to the creation of the desired atmosphere. Francisc Gall's muse overflows with vitality and jovial exuberance, and her choice of clothing, hair up, tied with a bow, reveals the young age of the girl. With her eyes directed towards the sheet music and her hands placed above the piano keys, the protagonist is in an imperturbable state of concentration, in which it seems that no external event could disturb her artistic act. The background doesn't provide us with too many clues about the typology of the performative act itself, so we don't know if the young muse is practicing and perfecting her talent or if she is demonstrating her musical abilities in a recital. However, her facial expressions and body language reveal her maximum concentration power, similar to a trance. Representative of his entire work, the present creation provides us with sufficient data regarding Francisc Gall's qualities as a colorist and his perfect technique.

References

FLAMENT, Andre, "F. Gall", Editions Vision on the Arts, Paris.

Dimensions

width 27 cm, height 41 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed bottom left, in red, "F. gall"

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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