Léo Fontan (1884 - 1965) Coquette With Ginger

French erotic watercolor by the famous painter, decorator, illustrator and poster artist Leo Fontan (1884 Donchery / Ardennes - 1965 Annecy). Student of Luc Olivier Merson, Léon Bonnat and Fernand Cormon. After studying, he settled down. in Paris . He works in Martine de Poiret's studio, friendship with Jean Gabriel Domergue. Regularly exhibited at the SAfr show. (member) and at the Humorists lounge. Price: 1925 Med. Golden. Expos. Decorative Arts in Paris; in 1936 price of pupil of Bonnat; 1944 Med. silver ; Knight of the Legion of Honour. - F. arranges series of postcards (Charme, 1900-14; L'Opiomane, circa 1910) and book covers (Maurice Leblanc, Bouchon de cristal and other adventures of Arsène Lupine, 1912-14). Besides he illustrated a lot of. books (J. Dubois, La Baieonnette, 1916; a work from Les Orties de blancs, by Paul loin, 1934) and Periodika (Luxe de Paris, 1913; La vie parisienne, 1918-21) as well as travel guides by Lubin (1929). He created 62 illustrations with gallant images for Art Eros month.magazines in 1920-28 (our watercolor is from this series), posters, eg. for the review theater Les Folies Bergère (Un coup de foil, 1930), also leaflets (for Paris Hôtel Scribe, 1935) and works for the alpine association La Montagne (1932). As a painter and decorator F. receives large orders for the fitting out of the liners Théophile gau animal, Athos III and Ile de France (dining room and large living room). He also painted genre scenes, interiors and landscapes (Aqu., Pastell). Since 1923 frequently represented in auctions, among others with the watercolors La Réussite and Le Tango (both 15./16.6.1923 Paris, Hôtel Drouot) as well as the oil painting Venice (16.10.1992 Paris).

Literature: Vollmer, 2, 1955. Edouard-Joseph II, 1931; DBF XIV, 1979; Osterwalder, 1890-1945, 1992; Bénézit V, 1999. - IFF, After 1800 VIII, 1954; R.Gaudriault, The engraving of feminine fashion in France, P. 1983; The boarding official. postcards from coll. (P.) 1991.
Inscription: signed lower right
Technique: watercolor and pencil on paper. Original period frame.
Dimensions: image 21 x 45 cm, matted and framed 38.5 x 65 cm.
Condition: in very good condition