'Small Boat and Bather in Dinard' by Jean Pons (1961)

'Small Boat and Bather in Dinard', gouache and charcoal on art paper, by French artist, Jean Pons (1961). Painted in a naïve style, the piece depicts a bather nearby a beached small boat. The sea appears turbulent and the bather's posture signals she is in thought, perhaps processing a bit of turbulence in her own life. The umbrella next to her is in the sand indicating symbolically there may be tough times. Walking around Dinard, with its Belle Époque villas and stripy beach tents, is like taking a trip back to the 19th century. Made popular by British and American visitors in the 19th century, Dinard was France’s top summer resort until the French Riviera took over in the 1930s. The former fishing village attracted wealthy celebrities and businessmen as well as European royalty, some of whom built fabulous villas; there are now more than 400 listed buildings in the town. It is a quite charming piece, simple yet thought-provoking. Naïve art is characterised by childlike simplicity of execution and vision. As such it has been valued by modernists seeking to get away from what they see as the insincere sophistication of art created within the traditional system. The most famous naïve artist of modern times is Henri Rousseau (Le Douanier). The artwork has been newly framed and glazed with non-reflective glass. It is in good overall condition. The artist initialed the work in the lower right hand. Upon request a video may be provided. The 1961 reference was written on the reverse of the original but dilapidated frame.

About the Artist: Jean Pons (1913-2005) Pons created his artworks in an expressionist style. Later on, he started working on more traditional subjects such as still lifes, landscapes and portraits. In the late 1930s he made a turn towards abstraction and practiced different techniques including collage and mixed media. But this period lasted only a short time; under the influence of the New Figuration movement he practiced a more figurative style while keeping his predilection for bright colours. His choice of colours softened gradually. New Figuration is a term referring to the revival of figurative art in Europe and America in the 1960s following a period dominated by abstraction. David Hockney's works are a good example. Throughout Pons' career he had been close to artists from all the great movements of the 20th century: Geometric Abstraction, New School of Paris, Lyrical Abstraction, Cobra, and many others. The artist passed away in 2005.

 Dimensions with frame:

H 37.5 cm / 14.8"

W 44.5 cm / 17.5"

Dimensions without frame:

H 22.5 cm / 8.9"

W 29.5 cm / 11.6"