Kees van Dongen (1877-1968)

Jacques Chalom des Cordes will include this work in his forthcoming Van Dongen catalogue critique being prepared under the sponsorship of the Wildenstein Institute.


Le cheval blanc illustrates through its simplicity the wealth and virtuosity of Kees Van Dongen’s mature work. Probably painted in the French country side, the Dutchman would repeatedly paint the landscapes which he discovered during his several travels in different regions in France: From Normandy in Deauville, to Eure et Loire at Chartre; passing by the South of France, from Collioure to Mandelieu, Monte Carlos, Cannes or Nice.

In Le cheval blanc, the artist opts for a powerful, ordered composition: the right and left sections dominated by the soft pink of the building and luxuriant yellow of the wheat field which create a striking contrast in surface; whilst beyond, the presence of other buildings emerging from the trees enliven the scene and a subtle blue sky adds a touch of peacefulness. It is interesting to note that while the scene depicted in the present picture emphasizes the dominance of nature, the human presence is entirely omitted, making the horse the focal point.

Painted at the height of his fame, this work expresses the breadth of Van Dongen’s artistic legacy, from the Nordic tonalities of his earliest landscapes to the resonance of his Fauve period.