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an image of a painting of a forest with trees and rocksa painting of a forest scene with trees and rocksan image of a painting of a forest scene with ducks in the foregrounda wooden picture frame with a string of lights hanging from ita sculpture of a man standing in front of a painting
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Estimate €40,000 - €60,000
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Description
Paul SÉRUSIER Woodland with Japanese-style trees – circa 1917 Oil on cardboard mounted on plywood 49.5 x 34.7 cm Provenance: The artist’s studio Marguerite Sérusier Collection (until 1950) Henriette Boutaric Collection ((? – 1984), her sole heir) Private collection (acquired from the latter in the late 1970s) Auction, Brest, Thierry-Lannon & Associés, 10 December 2016, lot 197 Acquired at this auction by the current owner Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Bibliography: *La Gazette Drouot*, no. 42, 2 December 2016, reproduced in colour on p. 217 *La Gazette Drouot*, no. 44, 16 December 2016, reproduced in colour on p. 116 This work is listed in the online catalogue raisonné of Paul Sérusier’s works, https://www.comite-serusier.com/catalogue-raisonne-paul-serusier/sous-bois-aux-arbres-japonisants/ (accessed 30 May 2026) A certificate from the Paul Sérusier Committee will be issued to the buyer. Oil on cardboard mounted on plywood; 19 1/2 x 13 5/8 in. Painted in 1917 in the vicinity of Châteauneuf-du-Faou, this painting illustrates the artist’s full artistic maturity and the culmination of his exploration of the landscape. In this woodland landscape, Sérusier expresses his deep conviction: nature knows no straight lines, which are a human invention, but is organised according to a rhythm of curves and undulations. He does not seek to copy nature, but to convey its organic logic and inner vitality. The simplified forms, the sinuous tree trunks and the restricted palette of greens, browns and reds contribute to a colourful harmony imbued with serenity. Thus, the three white brushstrokes on the flower in the foreground do not conform to any naturalistic requirement, but are intended to intensify the luminosity of the composition and capture the viewer’s gaze. The artist now worked with the paint in small, fragmented and vibrant brushstrokes rather than in flat areas of colour. The stylisation of the forms and the absence of perspective betray the enduring influence of Japanese art, which Sérusier had discovered as early as 1890 at the exhibition of prints at the École des Beaux-Arts and through the magazine *Le Japon artistique*. During a period marked by isolation, Sérusier sought to convey, through nature, a meditation on the harmony of the world. Paul SÉRUSIER 49.5 x 34.7 cm Painted in 1917 near Châteauneuf-du-Faou, this work illustrates the painter’s artistic maturity and the culmination of his exploration of landscape. In this woodland scene, Sérusier expresses his deep conviction: that nature knows no straight lines – which are a human invention – but is organised according to a rhythm of curves and undulating lines. He does not seek to copy nature, but to convey its organic logic and inner vitality. The simplified forms, the sinuous tree trunks and the palette restricted to greens, browns and reds contribute to a colourful harmony imbued with serenity. Similarly, the three white touches on the flower in the foreground do not conform to any requirement of naturalism, but aim to intensify the luminosity of the composition and capture the viewer’s gaze. The artist was now applying paint in small, fragmented and vibrant strokes rather than flat areas of colour. The stylisation of forms and the absence of perspective reveal the continuing influence of Japanese art, which Sérusier had discovered as early as 1890 at the exhibition of prints at the École des Beaux-Arts and through the magazine *Le Japon Artistique*. In a period characterised by isolation, Sérusier sought to convey, through nature, a meditation on the harmony of the world.
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About the sale The Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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