Items Similar to Un Enfant
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 3
Joseph RamanankamonjyUn Enfant
About the Item
Signed and inscribed, lower center: Joseph / Ramanankamonjy / un enfant / Madagascar / “sanguine sur soie”
Provenance:
Private Collection, Paris
Private Collection, Florida
Sometimes one comes across an artist almost completely divorced from the mainstream of critical attention, but whose work reveals a quality and interest that demands appreciation. Such a figure is Joseph Ramanankamonjy, a painter locally revered in his native Madagascar, but virtually unknown outside of it.
The subjects of Ramanankamonjy’s works were exclusively drawn from his homeland—landscapes, dwellings, scenes of everyday life, and portrait drawings, of which the present works are particularly fine examples. But while he was educated in Madagascar—training with local artists, then attending the School of Fine Arts at Andafiavaratra Palace in the capital city of Antananarivo (Tananarive)—he exhibited frequently in France, first showing his work in Paris in 1928 and later in 1948, 1949, and 1959. In 1931 he was part of the Malagasy Delegation to the Exposition Coloniale Internationale held in the Bois de Vincennes in Paris. This massive exhibition, controversial in its day, attempted to extoll the beneficent aspects of colonialism, particularly among French possessions, of which Madagascar was one from 1897 until its independence in 1960.
By the time of the Colonial Exhibition, Ramanankamonjy had developed his signature mode of portraiture, painting intense images on small pieces of silk. One of these, now in the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, is dated 1930 (Fig. 1). It depicts a young Malagasy woman—her face, hair, and pendant earrings meticulously delineated—while the balance of her body is only summarily indicated. She is designated as a Hova, the free commoner caste of the Merina people, the largest ethnic group in Madagascar.
Our works are undated but clearly somewhat later in date given their more sophisticated modelling and focus on the subject. In Petite Fille Ramanankamonjy has introduced a more varied palette, rendering the tonalities of the girl’s face in a succession of fine brushstrokes ranging from yellows to browns to blues, while giving great attention to her hair, articulated with variations in grays. A detail photograph gives some indication of the remarkable technique employed by the artist (Fig. 2).
Un Enfant, executed in sanguine, dwells on the soft forms of the child’s face, revealed by lambent light from above. The young girl’s hair is depicted with equal care, with special emphasis given to the braids—proud hallmarks of Malagasy culture. There is a directness and honesty in the artist’s portraits—most of which are of children—which, while veering towards the sentimental, maintain the integrity and dignity of the sitters. A review of the artist’s 1949 exhibition at L’Agence des Colonies in Paris stressed the humanity and sympathy with which Ramanankamonjy approached his subjects, the finesse of his technique, and the uniqueness of his watercolor-on-silk medium (Fig. 3).
Besides exhibitions in France, Ramanankamonjy showed his work on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Réunion. Otherwise he worked and exhibited exclusively in Madagascar (Fig. 4). He received numerous honors and awards in his homeland, becoming the first artist member of the Malagasy Academy, leading to his induction into the French Legion d’honneur, first as a Chevalier in 1950, then as Officier in 1960. He was the subject of retrospective exhibitions in Antanarivo, most recently in 2014, the thirtieth anniversary of his death. Nonetheless, other than locally, he remains largely an unknown figure.
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1027006522
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1997
1stDibs seller since 2012
20 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 14 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New York, NY
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllPetite Fille
By Joseph Ramanankamonjy
Located in New York, NY
Signed and inscribed, lower center: Joseph / Ramanankamonjy / Madagascar / Petite fille / “aquarelle sur soie”
Provenance:
Private Collection, Paris
Private Collection, Florida
Som...
Category
20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Silk, Watercolor
The Argument
Located in New York, NY
Signed and inscribed on a label on the verso:
No. 1/ The Argument/ W. Cave Thomas/ 203 Camden Rd/ NW
Provenance:
Christie’s, London, 6 November 1995, lot 88.
Private Collection, London.
This powerful watercolor is a mature work by the little-known Victorian painter William Cave Thomas...
Category
19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor, Pencil
Head of a Cheerful Man Wearing a Cap
Located in New York, NY
Watermark: the arms of Amsterdam
Provenance:
Christie’s, Amsterdam, 1 December 1986, lot 46; where acquired by:
Private Collection, New York
Literature:
Roger Adolf d’Hulst, “Jordaens Drawings: Supplement II,” Master Drawings, vol. 28, no. 2 (1990), pp. 153-156, no. A237a, fig. 17.
Matías Díaz Padrón, Jacob Jordaens...
Category
17th Century Baroque Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Chalk
Woman in Fantasy Costume (pair)
By Jean Baptist Le Prince
Located in New York, NY
The pair consists of the present work and an engraving after it by the hand of Giles DeMarteau (Liège 1722 – 1776 Paris) titled Woman in Fantasy Costume, after Jean Baptiste Le Prince, and measuring, 10 ⅜ x 8 ⅝ inches (26.5 x 22 cm).
DeMarteau's engraving is inscribed at the bottom:
Le Prince inv. del. / Demarteau sc. / A Paris ches Demarteau Graveur du Roi, rue de la Pelterie à la Cloche...
Category
18th Century Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Chalk, Engraving
Study of a Franciscan Saint, probably San Diego de Alcalá
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: Ivan E. Phillips, Montreal and New York, until 2023.
The brothers Bartolomé Carducho and Vicente Carducho, both born and trained in Florence, settled in Spain where they made their careers. Vicente worked on numerous commissions for both the church and the Spanish court...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Chalk, Ink, Pen
Study after Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment”
By Michelangelo Buonarroti
Located in New York, NY
Italian School, 16th Century
Provenance:
Private Collection, New York
This intriguing drawing is a study by an anonymous 16th-century Italian artist after a vignette in Michelangelo’s fresco of The Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. The altar wall of the Sistine Chapel was already richly decorated when Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to paint his Last Judgment...
Category
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Gouache
You May Also Like
Commes des Garçon, Watercolor fashion, drawings on archive paper.
By Manuel Santelices
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The artist has covered New York collections for over 16 years and has interviewed, as a journalist, several fashion designers and personalities for different publications. He loves t...
Category
2010s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Lynn Yaegger, Watercolor fashion, portrait on archive paper.
By Manuel Santelices
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The artist has covered New York collections for over 16 years and has interviewed, as a journalist, several fashion designers and personalities for different publications. He loves t...
Category
2010s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
The Young Student - Original Drawing - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The Young Student is an original drawing in Ink, Watercolor, and pastel by an anonymous artist in the first half of the 20th Century.
Good conditions.
The artwork is depicted throu...
Category
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Pastel, Ink, Watercolor
The Couples - Original Drawing by Mino Maccari - 1960
By Mino Maccari
Located in Roma, IT
"The Couples" is an original hand colored drawing on ivory-colorated paper by Mino Maccari (1898-1989).
In excellent conditions.
Sheet dimension: 35 x 50 cm.
This is an original ...
Category
1960s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Harlequin - Watercolor by Alfredo Edel - 1904
By Alfredo Edel
Located in Roma, IT
Harlequin is an original watercolor realized by Alfredo Edel in 1904.
Good condition, included a white cardboard passpartout ( 69x49 cm).
Hand signed by the artist.
Alfredo Leonardo Edel (1856–1912), sometimes credited as Alfredo Edel Colorno, was an Italian costume designer popular during the late 19th and early 20th century. He worked at the La Scala opera...
Category
Early 1900s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
The Devoted Lady - Original Drawing - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The Devoted Lady in The Garden is an original drawing in Ink and Watercolor in the first half of the 20th Century.
Good conditions.
The artwork is depicted through strong strokes a...
Category
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Watercolor
$470 Sale Price
24% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Indian Girl
Girl With Braids
Paris Colonial Exposition
Vintage Indian Girl
L Enfant Pendant
Colonial Painting On Silk
Large Original Oil Painting
Red Sky
Into The Night
Entire Studios
1950 Oil Paintings
Abstract Painting Blue Green
Gold Member
Museum Of Fine Arts Boston
Abstract Dancers
Natural History Prints
Taylor And Taylor
Ecole De Paris