Georges Rouault, 
French 1871-1958 - 

End of Term, 1908; 

watercolour and gouache on paper, signed and dated upper right 'G Rouault 1908', 29.4 x 20.2 cm (ARR) 

Provenance: 
The Mayor Gallery Ltd., London, 3239 (label attached to the reverse and details confirmed by The Mayor Gallery); 
Peter and Iris Hughes, purchased from the above in 1950 and thence by descent 

Note: 
the work was painted as the artist emerged from a period of turmoil from 1905-05, following the death of his mentor Gustave Moreau. From this crisis, Rouault simultaneously developed his distinctive artistic style and become a more ardent catholic. He began painting subject matter that epitomised bourgeois corruption and often fixated around the idea of redemption. This included prostitutes, clowns, cruel judges and in this series of works from 1908, school professors. In a series of a least three works on paper, including 'Professeurs I, 1908' and 'Professeurs II (or Mr. Loyal), 1908, the artist contrasts the strict authority of the professors in their formal suits with the childish innocence of the children below. The present work has a lightness of touch in the handling of watercolour and the gently satirical humour that demonstrates Rouault's sheer genius as an artist. Rouault would return to the theme of professors in later prints of the 1930s. 

In 1908 Rouault would exhibit in London at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Henri Manguin, Paul Serusier and Albert Marquet as part of the Allied Artist Association organised by the important critic Frank Rutter, demonstrating the interest already felt in his work outside France. Rouault would have his first solo exhibition shortly after in 1910 at Galerie Druet, Paris. The Mayor Gallery sold works by the artist as early as 1934 and held an exhibition in London in 1935. 

The original owner of the work Iris Hughes had an important British collection of Post-Impressionist art, including Pierre Bonnard, Walter Sickert and Maurice Utrillo, and was the daughter of Sir and Lady Maximillian Michaelis, who donated a large part of their collection to the South African National Gallery.