Charles Blondin (1913-1991), Saint Ouen, Biron, The Flea Market, Circa 1950-1960

Blondin, Charles
Paris, 1913 – 1991

Saint-Ouen, Biron, the flea market, circa 1950-1960
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left “Charles Blondin”
H. 27 cm. / L. 35 cm.

Work cleaned and varnished by a professional restorer.

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This painting offers a lively depiction of the Biron market in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis), one of the oldest and most renowned antique markets in Paris, established in 1925. The central aisle, flanked by dealers’ stalls beneath ochre and beige awnings, is bustling with figures – buyers, browsers and merchants. The scene captures a vibrant moment of daily life, filled withlight and movement.

The composition is structured around a strong central perspective that draws the eye towards the background, where industrial buildings recede into a hazy light. The stalls are filled with furniture, carpets, paintings, ceramics and decorative objects, while the figures – men in suits, elegantly dressed women –animate the space without overwhelming it. Each group is carefully positioned, their gestures evoking the social exchanges of the market place.

The brushwork is precise, applied in small, well-controlled strokes, contrasting with the more diffuse handling seen in other works by Blondin. The bright lighting enhances the volumes, the vivid colours of the objects and the palepaving of the walkway. The palette is rich and warm: ochres, burnt sienna, bottle green, royal blue and bright reds punctuate the stalls and figures.

This painting belongs to the most descriptive vein of Charles Blondin’s work, in which he captures with charm and fidelity the everyday life of Parisian streets and markets, like a visual chronicler. Here, he demonstrates his long-standing interest in the Saint-Ouen flea markets, which he often painted from various angles, always with a concern for clarity of composition and narrative liveliness.

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Blondin, Charles
Paris, 1913 – 1991

French painter.

Active from the late 1920s, Charles Blondin began his artistic career in Paris, where he was already exhibiting by the 1930s. He held his first solo exhibition in 1935 and throughout his life took part in numerous group shows across Europe and America.

His works were presented in several prestigious venues, including Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris, the Guggenheim Gallery in New York, and Documenta in Kassel. He was also represented in international fairs and exhibitions over the following decades.

Blondin specialised in urban landscapes and scenes of everyday life in Paris. He showed a particular fondness for iconic locations in the capital, such as the Saint-Ouen flea market, the Moulin Rouge, the Tuileries Gardens and the Palais Garnier. Though less documented, his oeuvre also includes portraiture.

His style is distinguished by vivid colours, pronounced contrasts and a light, often blurred touch. He embraced a deliberately imprecise technique, favouring suggestion over descriptive accuracy. This approach lends his paintings a poetic and animated quality, focused on visual emotion and compositional rhythm.

In addition to his oil paintings, Charles Blondin also produced colour etchings depicting Parisian views. These were published by the Paris Etching Society and distributed through Galerie Camilla Lucas, helping to establish his reputation on the international stage. In1959, he was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur in recognition of his contribution to French culture.

Today, his works are held in numerous private collections in France and abroad, and appear regularly on the art market.

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