'The Divers' by Berthommé Saint-André (circa 1930s)

'The Divers', oil on board affixed to stretcher, by Berthommé Saint-André (circa 1930s). A dynamic composition capturing swimmers in mid-dive at a countryside swimming pool, rendered in Berthommé Saint-André's characteristic vibrant, gestural style. Sun-warmed flesh tones, painted in confident sweeping strokes, contrast against a lush green landscape and cool turquoise water, with a diving platform and figures joyfully animating the background. The composition presents a bold diagonal charge with bodies stretched in motion across the picture plane, yet it maintains a naive quality about. Swimming pools and athletic leisure scenes became a hugely popular subject in French painting during the 1930s, partly spurred by the 1936 Popular Front reforms (paid vacations, public investment in sports/leisure infrastructure). Diving platforms and communal pools were a very "of the moment" motif then. The painting is in good overall condition and is newly framed in a tray. The abbreviated signature, "B. St. André", appears in the lower left hand. This is one of two documented signatures for this artist. The other appears on larger works with the full name written out. Structurally, the painting is unusually configured with the work on board affixed to a new canvas stretcher. This does however, make for a very stable platform for the long term. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 17.9 cm / 7.0"

W 25.7 cm / 10.1"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 16 cm / 6.3"

W 24 cm / 9.4"

About the Artist:
Louis Berthommé Saint-André (1905–1977) was a prominent 20th-century French painter, lithographer, and illustrator celebrated for his vibrant figurative works and masterful book illustrations. Originally trained in architecture, he transitioned to fine art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Fernand Cormon. In 1925, he became the youngest artist ever to win the prestigious Abd-el-Tif Prize, granting him a residency in Algiers, where the brilliant North African light permanently transformed his palette — blending Romantic warmth with Cézanne-like structural clarity. Back in Paris, he became a fixture of the mid-century art world and a sought-after collaborator for luxury publishers and haute couture houses, producing acclaimed illustrations for literary masterworks by Baudelaire, Voltaire, and Verlaine. During WWII, he lent his artistic talents to the French Resistance. Today his work is held in major private and museum collections worldwide.