Les Champs
19th-century French School oil painting on wood monogrammed "A.P" referring to Armand Point (1861-1932). There are the outlines of a boat study on the reverse side of the finished work/ The artwork possesses a noticeable texture to the touch.
This painting depicts a wooded landscape at sunset, characteristic of the symbolist movement. While the brushstrokes have an animated feel, they're structured, giving the foreground an appealing texture. The choice of colors and the interpretation of the theme are consistent with the hallmarks of symbolism. The piece beautifully blends geometric shapes with poetic elements. Unlike Naturalism, which emphasizes a true-to-life depiction of nature, this work leans towards a subjective representation of reality.
About the artist:
Armand Point was a French painter born in Algiers, Algeria on March 23, 1861. Point was a versatile artist known for his roles as a naturalist, orientalist, and symbolist, but he was also an accomplished lithographer, illustrator, and engraver. He founded the Symbolist artistic group known as Le Logis de Haute-Claire.
As a child at the age of six, Armand Point became an orphan after his parents succumbed to an epidemic of typhus and cholera. He was raised in Paris by his aunt and received instruction in drawing and painting from the painter Auguste Clément Herst (1825-1900).
Initially, Point's artistic career was influenced by naturalism, and he focused on painting landscapes. However, he later returned to Algeria, his place of birth, and gradually adopted an Orientalist approach to his art. Even while enlisted with colonial troops in 1881, Point continued to practice his art, creating notable works like "Tunisie-Campagne de 1881," which garnered praise from critics. During the same period, he exhibited naturalist paintings at the Salon of French Artists in Paris from 1882.
Back in Paris, Point crossed paths with the French poet Élémir Bourges (1852-1925), who profoundly impacted his artistic perspective and ignited a desire to merge art and poetry. This newfound inspiration led him to undertake various apprenticeships and projects. In 1893, he secured a scholarship to Italy to study an egg painting technique with members of the Italian primitivism movement.
In 1896, Armand Point established a significant intellectual and artistic hub known as "Logis de Haute-Claire" in Marlotte, near Paris. This hub quickly gained prominence during the Belle Epoque and hosted notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, Émile Zola, and Paul Claudel. At this location, artists including painters, sculptors, gilders, enamel artists, and goldsmiths advocated for a return to traditional methods and produced tapestries, jewelry, and art objects. The group remained active until 1903.
Throughout his career, Armand Point maintained a commitment to revitalizing artistic techniques, exploring diverse mediums, and displaying an enduring curiosity for artistic trends.
Armand Point passed away in Naples on February 6, 1932. Several of his works are housed in French museums. Notably, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris holds three of his pieces.
- Overall Size: 11.8" x 15.5" / 30cm x 39.5cm.
- Size without the frame: 9" x 12.9" / 23.5cm x 33.5cm.
- Country: France.
- Monogrammed: A.P for Armand Point (1861-1932).
- Date: Late 19th century.
- Condition: The wooden panel is in well-preserved condition. However, the frame exhibits gaps and signs of impact.
- Materials: Oil on wood with a wood frame.
- Shipping: Free global shipping is included with this painting. A surcharge is added for Australia and New Zealand, and Asia.