Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
French, 1859-1927
Rich impression with dramatic drypoint burr and tone no other artist epitomizes the whole atmosphere of elegance and hedonistic pleasure which pervaded Paris society at the first decade of the century as does Helleu. A close friend of Proust and the inspiration for one of the principal characters in La Recherche du Temps Perdu, Helleu’s whole life style echoed the incomparable elegance and flow of his drawing, the sheer style of his art, and his eye for the poses of the beautiful women who were his friends and his patrons. During the 1870’s, Helleu had come to know the painters of Impressionism and also artists Sargent and Whistler who became his special friends and inspiration. By the early 1880’s, he had already developed the quality of expressive sweeping line, which is the essence of his drawing, but in 1885 he was encouraged by Tissot to try working on prints in drypoint. At this time, Tissot had decided, after the death of his lover and model Kathleen Newton, to travel to the Holy Land on an artistic pilgrimage. Having decided he would no longer engrave, he gave Helleu his diamond stylus…a literal and figurative “passing of the baton”. It was in the incision and texture of drypoint that his art was to reach one of its greatest peaks. He had an innate feel for the balance between a lightly curving stroke and the deeply cut highly tonal burr of the strongest drypoint. Around the turn of the century he started to combine drypoint with multi-inking in colors, the areas of color restricted to such touches as the bows on the hats, the hair color or the red of the lips. The plate was drawn at a single sitting, and then the color inks were brushed onto it. The results are some of the most splendid and decorative of all Belle Époque prints.to
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Artist: Paul César Helleu
Untitled (Young woman seen from the back)
By Paul César Helleu
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled (Young woman seen from the back)
Sanguine crayon, charcola and watercolor on paper, c. 1910
Signed with the estate stamp, Lugt 5169 lower left corner
Provenance:
Estate of ...
Category
Early 1900s Impressionist Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Charcoal
Tea at the Ritz, New York
By Paul César Helleu
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Tea at the Ritz, New York
Colored chalk, 1912
Signed with the estate stamp verso. (see photo)
Authenticated by the artist's daughter, Mme Paulette Johnston.
Image size: 10 5/8 x 10 1...
Category
1920s Art Nouveau Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Chalk
La femme aux fleurs (Portrait de Mathilde See)
By Paul César Helleu
Located in New Orleans, LA
Paul César Helleu is regarded among the most sought-after society portraitists of his era, and his Belle Époque works rival those of his contemporaries John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini. He is best remembered for capturing the era's most beautiful socialites, including Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlborough, the Comtesse de Loriol Chandieu and the Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles, among others. This work, however, stands out in that it captures the charming likeness of one of his art world cohorts, Mathilde See, a Parisian-born decorator and painter of floral still lifes. She is the essence of the modern woman, captured in her fashionable dress as she strolls along the flower-lined streets of Paris.
Commanding in size, Portrait de Mathilde See fully displays Helleu's mastery over the medium of pastel. The muted palette of greys and blues is typical of the artist, bringing a harmony and cohesiveness to the composition. Furthermore, Helleu cleverly alludes to See's own artistic output with a backdrop of vibrant floral blooms, enlivening the canvas and complementing the greens and blues of the peacock feather adorning her hat.
The portrait is all the more significant thanks to its provenance. It was previously in the collection of A. Alfred Taubman, one of America's most successful entrepreneurs and one-time owner of Sotheby's. Considering Taubman encountered some of the most noteworthy and beautiful works of art ever made through his auction house, the fact that he chose this portrait by Helleu to grace his collection is a testament to its import.
Born in Brittany in 1859, Helleu moved to Paris in 1876 in order to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. Like so many other artists of his generation, he was trained there under the Academic master Jean-Léon Gérôme. That same year, he also attended the Second Impressionist Exhibition...
Category
20th Century Modern Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Linen, Pastel
Original Drawing "Jeune Femme Assise" by Paul Cesar Helleu, c. 1910
By Paul César Helleu
Located in Hinsdale, IL
HELLEU, PAUL CÉSAR
(1859 -1927)
"JEUNE FEMME ASSISE"
(Young Woman Seated)
Original Drawing in sanguine, white and black chalks, c. 1910
Signed in pencil by artist, lower right
Full M...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Chalk, Carbon Pencil
Original Drawing "Jeune Femme Assise" by Paul Cesar Helleu, c. 1910
By Paul César Helleu
Located in Hinsdale, IL
HELLEU, PAUL CÉSAR
(1859 -1927)
"JEUNE FEMME ASSISE"
(Young Woman Seated)
Original Drawing in sanguine, white and black chalks, c. 1910
Signed in pencil by artist, lower right
Full Margins on cream wove paperImage size: 17.5” x 11.02”
Paul César Helleu...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Paul César Helleu Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Chalk
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Paul César Helleu drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Paul César Helleu drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Paul César Helleu in chalk, charcoal, crayon and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Paul César Helleu drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Camille Pissarro, Albert Van Nesse Greene, and Howard Chandler Christy. Paul César Helleu drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $7,500 and tops out at $425,000, while the average work can sell for $27,500.