Kei Mitsuuchi

French Pastel Nude

Circa 1990

Classic pastel on paper of seated nude female in orange, circa 1990. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Archival plastic sleeve and Certificate o...

Elegant pencil and pastel nude female in pink, circa 1990. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Archival plastic sleeve and ...

Fantastic pencil and pastel female nude standing in shades of pale purples and greens, 1990s. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Archival plastic...

Delightful pencil and pastel nude of a standing female, circa 1990. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Mat fits a standard-sized frame. Archival ...

French watercolor and ink painting of a nude female figure posing with geometric objects by Jean-Baptiste Grancher, circa 1950. Original art...

Dynamic French nude figure drawing of pregnant female in charcoal, 2010. Signed lower right. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Mat fits a stan...

Here is a pastel on paper work of art by the American artist, Gabriel Humberto Mayorga. Signed and dated lower left 1971. Wrinkling to paper and mild fading due to age. The piece ha...

James Tissot was among the most successful and critically acclaimed artists of the Victorian era. Although the artist is celebrated for his elegant scenes of fashionable life in Paris and London, this work is a fascinating rarity within his oeuvre. In this monumental pastel, Tissot depicts a prehistoric woman draped in a tiger skin, presented with a striking pose and heroic air. His delicate portraiture, combined with his fascination with conveying texture, demonstrates why he was one of the most revered artists of his generation, and La femme préhistorique illustrates the remarkable technique for which he was renowned. This work was completed in preparation for a series of works exploring the Old Testament undertaken by Tissot from 1899-1902 that remained unfinished at the time of his death. A portion of this series focused on illustrations of Adam and Eve, and among these sketches were images of a nude Eve partially draped in animal furs. Towards the end of his life, following his conversion to Catholicism, biblical subjects became important to the artist. A few years before this work was completed, Tissot embarked upon a highly ambitious group of nearly 300 watercolors illustrating the New Testament, presenting the illustrated epic in its entirety at the Paris Salon of 1894. Both of these series were a critical artistic departure for the artist, stemming from a desire to create works separated from his typical images of modern society. This pastel imagines Eve as the prototype of womanhood in the guise of a prehistoric woman. Tissot rarely painted the nude, and his skill as a draftsman highlights the figure's natural beauty, contrasting it with the stark landscape surrounding her. Although a study, this monumental work is incredibly well-finished and highly engaging, with the statuesque model commanding the majority of the canvas. Her pose is strong and theatrical, and she addresses the viewer with a direct, confident gaze. The imagined historical subject of this drawing is grounded by Tissot’s exceptional attention to detail. A master of conjuring an array of textures, Tissot showcased this ability in this work by juxtaposing many types of fabrics and natural elements within one composition. The tiger skin with which the woman partially covers herself was a favorite studio prop of Tissot’s, appearing in many of his most influential works from the period, including several paintings of his partner and favorite model Kathleen Newton. It, in particular, showcases the artist’s understanding of texture, yet it also serves as an exotic element that elevates the sensuality of the scene when placed against the woman’s bare skin. Born in 1836 in the port town of Nantes, Tissot traveled to Paris at the age of 20 in order to join the studios of Hippolyte Flandrin and Louis Lamothe. During this period, he became close with James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet, and the impact of these friendships is reflected in his portraits of modern life. Having enjoyed considerable success in Paris during the 1860s, Tissot fought in the Siege of Paris, and after the fall of the Commune in 1871, he went to London, where he stayed for the next ten years. He was met with incredible success there, and he also met the love of his life, Kathleen Newton, a divorcée, with whom he lived from about 1876 until her death in 1882. Today he is regarded among the great masters of Belle Époque painting, and his works can be found in important collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Tate Gallery and many others. This pastel remained in Tissot's private collection until his death in 1902 and is referenced in the posthumous 1902-3 valuation of Tissot's home at 64 avenue du Bois...

Signed lower right, 'Gilberg' and painted circa 1955. A woman, drawn in variegated shades of ruby and garnet red, poses on a bed with incised details. Born in Oakland, Robert Geor...

Benoit Gilsoul (1914-2000) "Orange Abstract Figure" c 1970s Pastel on paper 19"x24 unframed Unsigned Benoît Gilsoul (1914-2000) Belgium - completed his primary studies and Greek-Lat...

"Pink" is an original oil pastel on arches paper work by Lauren Rinaldi. This piece ships float-mounted in the pictured archival custom white frame. The finished framed dimensions ar...

An original realist pastel drawing by American female artist Catherine Koenig.