Nude of the Comtesse d’Hauteroche

Along with Paul Gauguin, Armand Seguin was one of the pioneers of the Pont-Aven School. He painted this canvas in Paris in 1896, at a time when his production was slowing and his funds were dwindling. On 26th March 1896, he wrote to Roderic O’Conor: “[...] I am busy at present. Unfortunately, I am constantly distracted by memories, by what others have done before me, but the great masters all had this feeling; what amuses and interests me most right now is the beauty of the nude. And her body is marvellous, with a splendid purity of line and a delectable skin colour [...]”. The composition is reminiscent of Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe (The Luncheon on the Grass): a landscape forms the background for a three-quarter portrait of a nude woman seated on a cloth. This canvas was purchased during the artist’s lifetime by influential art critic Arsene Alexandre, and was later acquired by Maurice Denis.