Georges Dreyfus (geo-michel) - Portrait Of A Laotian - Pastel, Signed And Titled - 28.5 X 22.5 Cm

GEORGES DREYFUS (1883-1985), known as GEO-MICHEL - Portrait of a Laotian
Framed pastel, signed lower left and titled with the model's name, "Sao Phomma," upper right. Dimensions: 28.5 x 22.5 cm

Although dated 1920 on the back, this portrait was probably made around 1923, the year Geo-Michel embarked for Indochina after winning the prestigious Prix de l'Indochine in 1923. He stayed in Asia until 1925 and contributed, among other things, to the magazine Les Pages Indochinoises. Upon his return to France, he produced a major fresco on Indochina for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition and was responsible for decorating the Indochina pavilion at the 1937 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts.
This pastel reflects Geo-Michel's fascination with Indochinese culture and people and illustrates his talent as a portraitist, creating a valuable work for collectors passionate about art from the French colonial period in Indochina.