'Portrait of a Pensive Woman' by Michel Sarazin (circa 2000)

'Portrait of a Pensive Woman', oil-pastel on board, by Michel Sarazin (circa 2000). A quietly captivating interior scene, characteristic of Sarazin at his most assured. A young woman sits cross-legged on the floor, lost in thought, her gaze averted toward an unseen point beyond the picture plane. Her clothing is alive with a pattern that rhymes playfully with the lush potted plants gathered behind her to the right. The composition is anchored by an intensely red wall which contrasts with the cool greys and soft greens of the figure. The treatment is energetic yet controlled: short, directional strokes of oil pastel build texture across the surface lending the work a tactile warmth. There is certainly a charming naivety to be encountered in Sarazin's figures. They are simply observed, tenderly rendered, and entirely his own. The work is in good overall condition in its original frame. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with frame:

H 63 cm / 24.8"

W 63 cm / 24.8"

Dimensions without frame:

H 49 cm / 19.3"

W 49 cm / 19.3"

About the Artist: Michel Sarazin (born 1942) trained at the Beaux-Arts in Caen and went on to become a member of the Salon d'Automne in Paris and a laureate of the Fondation Taylor. He lives and works in Clichy-la-Garenne, near Paris. Known for exuberant colour and a joyful engagement with domestic life, he has exhibited widely across France — in Paris, Strasbourg, Nantes, Le Havre and beyond — as well as in Chicago, Quebec, and Houston. His oil pastels on board are held in private collections internationally. This gallery's observation is that Sarazin's works may have similarities to Henri Matisse's colour and composition, and Pierre Bonnard's domesticity, but with a simplicity of line that belongs to neither — and that is precisely what makes him distinctive.