'Portrait of a Man' by Yvonne Guégan (circa 1970s)

'Portrait of a Man', oil on canvas, by Yvonne Guégan (circa 1970s). This is not a portrait of the reclusive billionaire, Howard Hughes. Regrettably, we don't know who it is but he looks like a fascinating character. The very wide collars from the 1970s frames the pensive look. Given the artist's biography, it wouldn't be a leap to say he was from Normandy in the North of France. Behind the subject light filters in from the window. The technique is raw with some edges of the canvas left unfinished. With modern art, process has been elevated over the finished product. It may be the case here - in fact, it adds interest overall to the work and particularly as it sits in this tray frame. The painting is in fair-to-good condition having recently undergone a thorough cleaning by an art restoration professional. It is newly framed in a tray and signed in the lower right hand. As the first work being sold by this gallery, we are delighted in having discovered this artist and will be on the lookout for many more. Please enjoy the photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video may be provided. 

About the Artist: Yvonne Guégan (1915-2005). Passionate and gifted artist, Yvonne Guégan often travelled from her native Normandy both for purposes of research and for the simple pleasure of travel. Whatever the reason, after each enlightening experience she returned without fail to her home region. She even participated in the rebuilding of Caen, a city devastated by WWII, contributing for her part in some of the most ambitious and monumental post-war projects. Simultaneously painter, ceramist, sculptor… Yvonne Guégan stands out with respect to her exceptional contribution to Normandy’s artistic heritage. Vivid and bright colours from her paintings and watercolours were coupled with a sense of humour imbued into her ceramics and drawings. The rhythm and strength of her prodigious artworks reveal the vision of a talented artist, resolutely modern in both her style and freedom of expression. 

Freedom is what undeniably defines this woman with an amazing creative vigour: freedom in her painting, freedom from exploitation by art galleries, freedom from being pigeonholed into particular art movements, freedom in her life… Her extraordinary strength of character and deeply rooted convictions undeniably marked a whole generation of artists and a whole region. Even if she often experienced disapproval and misunderstanding from her contemporaries, she had no regrets, for Yvonne's art was “a gesture of love, an act of generosity or rebellion”. This state of mind guided her during her entire life (Ref: Galerie Danielle Bourdette).

Dimensions with Frame:

H 57 cm / 22.4"

W 48 cm / 18.9"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 55 cm / 21.7

W 46 cm / 18.1"