Henri Borde (1888-1958) – Large Painting (120 X 140 Cm) – Scenes Of Pyrenean Life 1/2

We are offering for sale two exceptional works by the painter Henri Borde, an emblematic artist of Bigorre and the Hautes-Pyrénées. These large paintings (120 x 140 cm) perfectly illustrate his talent for capturing the atmosphere and energy of his native region. Both have the sketch of its pendant on the back. Old hanging holes are visible at the top of the painting. First painting: Traditional dance scene in Pyrenean costumes. A dynamic composition where the characters move to the rhythm of the music, in a typical mountain setting. Henri Borde (1888-1958) – Painter and Sculptor of Bigorre A Life Between Tradition and Modernity Henri Charles Louis Germain Borde, known as Henri Borde, was born on September 4, 1888 in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrénées. Initially intended for a legal career, he quickly abandoned his law studies to pursue his passion for art. He left for Paris where he trained in sculpture and painting. There he frequented the artistic community and met Charles Despiau, a renowned sculptor, who sponsored him at the Salon d'Automne, a prestigious art exhibition where he exhibited for the first time after the First World War. Although he rubbed shoulders with prominent artists of the time, such as Chagall, Modigliani, Braque and Gimel, Henri Borde remained deeply attached to his native region. Little attracted by Parisian eccentricities, he quickly returned to settle in the Hautes-Pyrénées, where he would spend most of his career. A Painter Committed to his Region Settling in Tarbes, he became a professor at the city's School of Fine Arts. In this capacity, he trained several generations of artists, while pursuing a personal artistic production. He carried out several major public commissions: ✔ Painting of the vaults of the Notre-Dame de la Sède cathedral in Tarbes, a masterpiece of color and composition (1937). ✔ Creation of the fountain in the Tarbes alleys, framing the statue of Marshal Foch. ✔ Creation of several war memorials, notably in Juillan, Sarrancolin and Sarriac-Bigorre. ✔ Decoration of public buildings, such as the meeting room of the Tarbes Chamber of Commerce. ✔ Participation in the Universal Exhibition in Paris (1937) with decorations for the Pavilion of the Three B (Basques, Béarn, Bigorre). A Powerful and Expressive Style Henri Borde is a figurative painter who combines tradition and modern influences. Initially influenced by the classical masters, he quickly opened up to the contemporary trends of his time: Fauvism – Bold use of color. Expressionism – Importance of movement and emotions. Post-Impressionism – Work of light and contrasts. His line is powerful, his touch energetic and his palette vivid, with compositions where the characters stand out strongly from the decor. He works as well with landscapes, the scene of Pyrenean life, as with portraits, sketching local figures from life.