Léonard Sarluis, Mysteries Of The Orient, 1942, Black Stone And White Gouache On Paper

Léonard SARLUIS
(The Hague 1874-1949 Paris)
Mysteries of the Orient ?
black stone and white gouache on paper
57 x 43 cm (view); 65.5 x 58 cm (framed)
dedicated to ‘Robert de Bedarieux’, signed ‘Sarluis’ and dated ‘1942’ top left
a slight tear at top left, slight crease in the centre of the sheet, minor rubbing at bottom left (see photographs)

Further information :
Salomon Léon Sarluis, known as Léonard Sarluis, was born in 1874 in The Hague and studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in that city between 1891 and 1893. He soon adopted the first name ‘Leonardo’ in homage to Leonardo da Vinci, thus marking the decisive influence of the Italian Renaissance on his work.
In 1904, he settled permanently in Paris and became a central figure on the capital's art scene. His art, strongly influenced by the Renaissance and the Pre-Raphaelite movement, was fully in line with the Symbolist aesthetic. He regularly took part in prestigious exhibitions such as the Salon des artistes français and the Salon de la Rose-Croix, and also exhibited his work at the Galerie Georges Petit. The enthusiastic reception he received from his contemporaries, both artists and writers, testified to his influence in the literary and artistic circles of his time. In 1923, he illustrated Gaston Pavloski's Voyage au pays de la quatrième dimension, confirming his interest in mysticism and the exploration of imaginary and spiritual dimensions.

Sarluis had a particularly close artistic and intellectual relationship with Armand Point, a major figure in Symbolism. Their collaboration was marked by the creation of the poster for the fifth edition of the Salon de la Rose-Croix, an emblematic work that reflected their shared ideals and sealed their friendship.

Our work is in this mystical and orientalist vein that is so characteristic of the artist. It depicts a male figure with Christ-like features accompanied by a female figure, in a composition evoking spirituality and the sacred. In its treatment and perspective, the work is reminiscent of Déesse Égyptienne Devant un Roi Babylonien, a drawing by Sarluis from 1926, sold at Artcurial on 26 September 2017.
Produced in the midst of the Second World War, this composition testifies to a desire to escape the tragic realities of his time by anchoring himself in the timeless and spiritual. The dedication to Robert de Bédarieux illustrates the special relationship Sarluis had with literary circles, affirming his role as a bridge between the visual arts and literature.

Selective bibliography:
Nicolas Bousser, Léonard Sarluis, Coupe File Art du 1 juin 2023 [Online]