André Prugent (1882-1965) Hollow Path Périgueux Dordogne Périgord

André PRUGENT
(Périgueux 1882 - 1965)
The sunken road
Oil on cardboard
H. 38 cm; L. 55 cm
Signed lower right, dated 1962

Provenance: Private collection, Périgord

During his childhood in the capital of Périgord, André Prugent attended the city's drawing school, directed at the end of the 19th century by Jean -Louis Daniel. Quickly becoming his favorite pupil, this leader of the school of Périgueux will not fail to direct him following rapid progress, at the Salon des Artistes Français where he will exhibit for the first time at 18 years old. After the mobilization of 14-18, Prugent returned to his land where he was regularly accompanied during outings to paint on the ground, by Emile Chaumont, André Saigne, Gustave Chérifel, etc. This younger generation generally met in the afternoon, when Prugent left the reins of the family shop to his wife. This store was none other than the place of supply for the painters of the region since there were the colors, canvases and other supports necessary for the arts. The windows of this place located rue de la Clarté in Périgueux were also the place of permanent exhibition of the painter's latest creations. In love with the nearby regions of the Isle valley, the names of Chancelade, Champcevinel, Bassillac come up many times in the painter's compositions. The very simple supports that André Prugent used often marked the touch of this artist whom some compared to Cézanne during his lifetime. Thick wefts of canvas, soft cardboard, added to a broad and sometimes very thick touch gave a lively character to his work. In 1929, he was made a member of French Artists and continued to exhibit at the Salon until the dawn of the Second World War. However, he continues to exhibit in various French cities and will see his local work crowned by a retrospective exhibition at the Palais des Fêtes in Périgueux, where oils, pastels, watercolors and woodcuts rubbed shoulders, in this year 1965, the day before his death. We noticed several works signed and dated in English. This fact is unexplained today, and invites you to contact us, if information that can help us is in your possession.

Hollow Path. This is the name of many paintings by Prugent made on the heights of Périgueux. However, this one has something special in its composition and its colors. The bright colors mingle in a central spiral formed by the path. A symbolist facet...