Leopold Survage, Fiesole, 1937

Leopold Survage (1879-1968)
Fiesole, 1937
casein on panel
signed, located and dated lower right
41 x 32.5 cm

Related works :
-Vue de Collioure, 1926, casein on panel, 33 x 41 cm (Millon 26.06.19, Lot 156, 3800€ hammer price);
-Les remparts de Tossa de Mar, 1930, casein on panel, 26 x 33 cm (Boisgirard - Antonini 06.05.16, Lot 108, 2600€ hammer price);
-Port Vendres, 1925, casein on panel, 38 x 46 cm (Cannes auction 01.03.15, Lot 523, 3000€ hammer price)

Léopold Survage was one of the first artists to experiment the use of casein as a medium in painting. Although its use dates back to ancient times, Survage has helped popularising it. This medium attracts the painter for its many virtues: the ability to obtain intense and matte colors, but also for its durability and its resistance to fading. However, this enduring medium accepts no repentance. Casein allowed Survage to experiment with mixed media, achieving a rich, creamy texture in his paintings, which he sometimes combined with other mediums such as collage or tempera. He often used it to create smooth, even surfaces, as well as to superimpose layers of translucent colors. Survage was known for his innovative approach to painting, and the use of casein was an integral part of his creative process.