La Vallée

An oil painting on hard carton, from the home and atelier of French artist Cécile Hertz-Eyrolles (1875–1974). The reverse bears the artist’s atelier stamp.

This loosely rendered landscape is painted in broad, expressive strokes and soft pastel tones. The rooftops of houses in the valley are suggested with just a single brush of red, yet the composition holds together with clarity and rhythm — the scene becoming more recognizable when viewed at a distance. A mountain range rises against a robin’s egg blue sky, while a river winds its way through the sloping valley below.

The foreground is the most active, filled with dappled greens, shadowed areas that hint at forest, and layers of depth and movement. The setting, with its tall peaks and vibrant valley, recalls the atmosphere of the Dolomites.

Condition to note: The painting shows signs of age and possible display in the artist’s workspace. There are small pinholes in the corners, likely from being pinned to a wall, and light scuffing on the surface.

Cécile Hertz-Eyrolles biography