'Reclining Nude with Fish' by Richard Mandin (1963)

'Reclining Nude with Fish', oil on board (1963), by Richard Mandin (1909 - 2002). This artwork features a reclining nude, her right arm outstretched in a classical, sensual and uninhibited pose. Is she lying in linens or is that the shoreline? A long fish appears in a rectangular frame suspended behind her as if in a painting. Together, the two may represent the zodiac sign of Pisces. Pisces is represented by two fish together but swimming in opposite directions. The juxtaposition of the painting's two subjects implies the fish has become the work of art and the reclining woman the sea creature. A person connected to this sign is a mediator between two different realities, with their biggest role as a bridge between life and death. This painting is in good vintage condition with some visible signs of age commensurate with the medium. Painting is signed in lower left hand side, 'Mandin 1963'. A short video clip of this work can be provided upon request.

About the Artist: Richard Mandin was born in 1909 in Marseille, France. He was a painter, illustrator and accomplished musician. At fifteen, he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Marseille then the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. At 23, he returned to his hometown never to move again. He worked tirelessly, but exhibited little. He struggled financially, selling his paintings here and there. In 1946, he exhibited in Paris with fellow Provençal artists, Pierre Ambrogiani, Antoine Ferrari and Auguste Chabaud. The exhibition did not go unnoticed; the following year he was selected for a major exhibition in New York with Braque, Chagall, Monet, Chabaud  and Picasso. Mandin, an expressionist, used triturated paint which covered his drawings in thick layers. He loved this technique and material which somewhat explains why the subjects of his paintings are sometimes blurred and indistinguishable. His painted clouds, trees and rocks can evoke shapes or silhouettes of characters, horses or other animals. The artist's pantings are vibrant and richly coloured - they delight the viewer by creating a visual echo of his beloved music. Today Mandin's works can be found in museums in Marseille and other towns in the south of France and are widely collected with a history as well in the major auction houses. 

Dimensions with frame:

H  51 cm

W  60.5 cm

Dimensions without frame:

H  29 cm

W  38.5 cm