JEAN DUPAS (1882-1964)

This picture is the definitive image created by Jean Dupas for the XVme Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, staged in the Grand Palais in 1924. The image represents two contrasted young beauties, who might be interpreted as illustrative of Woman, past and future. One, full-face, has a dreamy gaze and holds a rose; her black hair is coiffed in a high, elaborated style evocative of the wigs of the late 18th century. The second woman is smiling; her boyish blonde hair flows freely in the breeze; she holds an apple. The geometric reduction of their features, their elongated necks and angular, stylized fingers are the perfect distillation of the Dupas style - one that certain detractors playfully qualified as 'tubiste'.

This work will be included in the Jean Dupas catalogue raisonné currently being prepared by Romain Lefebvre.