Henri Pailler (1876-1954) Lemonade, Still Life 1904. Crozant School, Student Guillaumin

SUBLIME and RARE oil on canvas by Henri Pailler representing a still life with citrus fruits from 1904, signed and dated top left. Size of the canvas alone without frame 48x65cm and 58x74cm including frame This is indeed a rather exceptional still life by Henri Pailler of post-impressionist style with a fauve tendency, it represents the preparation of a lemonade on a tablecloth, with citrus fruits (clementines and lemons), but also apples, a knife, glass and spoon, sugar, water jug and bouquet of violets and daisies. Made during his best period, called the fauve period (1902-1908), therefore naturally his most highly rated period and by far, the results ranging between 4000 and 13500€, in fact there is a very big difference between the works of this period and those of earlier periods, more academic and those later less daring. It was during this period that he best applied the lessons of his master and friend Armand Guillaumin, but also those of the Fauves such as Manguin, Valtat, Seyssaud or Othon-Friesz, his friends for the most part. It was finally during this period that he produced masterpieces on the Creuse valley, but also nudes or still lifes. PAILLER Henri born in Poitiers in 1876, died in 1954. Painter of landscapes, nudes and still lifes. Student of Bonnat at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Henri Pailler is in fact the student and friend of Armand Guillaumin. More modest and less ambitious than his comrades Friesz, Marquet and Dufy met at the Bonnat studio, he preferred the classical impressionism of Guillaumin, the master of Crozant whom he accompanied in the Creuse. Still very young, Henri Pailler, aware of the privilege of frequenting Guillaumin, received his lessons like a real treasure. On the other hand, to ensure daily income, he taught drawing in Poitiers where he quickly succeeded in making teaching a hobby and painting a profession. Throughout his life he would seek neither recognition nor laurels for his landscapes which only change slowly with the seasons. Henri Pailler nevertheless succeeded, despite his position as a follower, in asserting his own personality. His most frequent subjects were views of Crozant and the surroundings of Poitiers, until his appointment as a drawing teacher in Roubaix. Then views of the north of France appeared, and during his holidays, views of the south. Henri Pailler would always keep a preference for Crozant and its Creuse. Henri Pailler debuted at the Salon des Indépendants in 1903 with 7 landscapes, and in 1904 with 7 others. This canvas is in perfect condition, delivered in a period gilded frame. Work guaranteed authentic.