'The Tennis Player' by Georges Joubin (circa 1950s)

'The Tennis Player', oil on canvas, by Georges Joubin (circa 1950s). Delightfully vague regarding the gender of the tennis player depicted in the artwork, most viewers arrive at the conclusion that the subject is female. This judgement aligns with the artist's extensive body of artwork which overwhelmingly features characterful, strong women as their primary subject. Born in 1888, the artist lived until the age of 95 and thus witnessed virtually a century of change. When he was a child, women wore the cumbersome projecting bustle when competing at Wimbledon. Elizabeth Ryan, winner of 19 Wimbledon titles, said of the talented French player, Suzanne Lenglen, “All women players should go on their knees in thankfulness to Suzanne for delivering them from the tyranny of corsets.” Lenglen wore a flimsy, revealing calf-length cotton frock with short sleeves at Wimbledon in 1926. It wasn't until after World War II that tennis outfits like that in this artwork were widely worn. This considerable painting has been recently cleaned and reconditioned by an art restoration specialist and is therefore in good overall condition. It is newly framed with a French-style linen slip. The artwork is signed in the lower right hand and has its provenance traceable to the artist's atelier. Upon request a video of the piece may be provided.

About the Artist: Georges Joubin (1888-1983). Born in Bligny near Reims, France, the artist became a pupil of Jean-Pierre Laurens at the Academy Julien Paris in 1906, then of Gabriel Ferrier at the Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux Arts Paris in 1908. In 1912 a small group of Montmartre-based artists led by Georges Joubin and Pierre Bonnard founded an artistic movement which they named L’École de Montmartre. Along with Joubin and Bonnard, founding members included Henri Rioux, Guy Dollian, Jean Frelezeau, and Edouard Hofer. The group started meeting in December 1928 and published their manifesto in early 1929. The artist died in 1983 having lived to the age of 95.

Dimensions with frame:

H 129 cm / 50.8"

W 94 cm / 37"

Dimensions without frame:

H 116 cm / 45.7"

W 81.5 cm / 32.1"