André Derain,

French 1880-1954 -

Baigneuses dans un paysage, c.1946-50;

oil on canvas, signed lower right 'Derain', 25 x 39.2 cm (ARR)

Provenance: Stefanos Zifos, Greece and thence by descent to private collection, UK

Note: this work is accompanied by the original photo-certificate from The Comité Derain, dated the 14th March 2022, signed by Madame Geneviève J. Taillade.

Stefanos Zifos was the son of the grand lady of Athens Irena Manoussi-Maximou. His step father was Alexander Michalinos, a Greek ship-owner who built "Megaron Maximou" in Athens, which today is the residence of the Greek Prime Minister. Zifos spent most of his life in Paris, where he built his art collection and developed an interest in Derain.

While most known for his key role in the development of Fauvism alongside Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Maurice de Vlaminck (1876-1958), after serving in World War I Derain returned to a more classical style of which his work would remain. This change in style can perhaps be seen as a quest to find a timeless art.

Bathers is a subject matter Derain explored frequently over the course of his lifetime (see an early example - The Bathers, 1908), popularized by Cezanne.

Fresh to market, 'Baigneuses dans un paysage' shows an influence of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in both subject matter and subtle colour palette. He has also imbued this later work with the narrative of Greek mythology (see also Les Bacchantes, c.1945, Troyes, musee d'Art moderne). For a time, he was heralded for upholding a renewed Classicism which led to designing many ballet sets with the Ballet Russes.