This painting, titled "L'enfant mort" (The Dead Child) and dated December 1936, is a striking and evocative work that portrays a somber and surreal scene. The composition features two men dressed in black suits and a woman dressed in dark formal attire, solemnly gathered around the dead body of a child. Laid out on a white cloth, the two men hold the child over a minute casket-reminiscent of a funeral or a ceremonial setting. The figures' postures and expressions suggest grief or reverence.
The room is a modest interior with deep red curtains, a chest of drawers adorned with a vase of flowers and a pink teddy bear. A small painting hangs over the dresser and a green upholstered chair is propped in the opposite corner. Toys scattered on the floor, including a doll and a ball, further enhance the unsettling juxtaposition of childhood innocence and mourning.
The style suggests a folk-art influence, with a focus on storytelling and emotion rather than strict realism. The ornate golden frame enhances its presence, lending it an air of gravitas and importance. The back of the canvas reveals markings indicative of its French origin, including a stamp from a fine art supplier in Paris and the handwritten title.
This painting, titled "L'enfant mort" (The Dead Child) and dated December 1936, is a striking and evocative work that portrays a somber and surreal scene. The composition features two men dressed in black suits and a woman dressed in dark formal attire, solemnly gathered around the dead body of a child. Laid out on a white cloth, the two men hold the child over a minute casket-reminiscent of a funeral or a ceremonial setting. The figures' postures and expressions suggest grief or reverence.
The room is a modest interior with deep red curtains, a chest of drawers adorned with a vase of flowers and a pink teddy bear. A small painting hangs over the dresser and a green upholstered chair is propped in the opposite corner. Toys scattered on the floor, including a doll and a ball, further enhance the unsettling juxtaposition of childhood innocence and mourning.
The style suggests a folk-art influence, with a focus on storytelling and emotion rather than strict realism. The ornate golden frame enhances its presence, lending it an air of gravitas and importance. The back of the canvas reveals markings indicative of its French origin, including a stamp from a fine art supplier in Paris and the handwritten title.
