A striking woman in black sits waterside in this entrancing oil painting by Jean-Pierre Cassigneul. A classic example of his aesthetic, this work is a testament to his unflinching originality, displaying his unique fusion of French haute couture with traditional portraiture. Richly hued with a vibrant palette, the work embodies the sophistication and timeless elegance of Cassigneul's impressive oeuvre.

His subject, a sophisticated woman in a wide-brimmed hat, is reminiscent of the elongated, sharply contoured female forms that permeate the work of the Expressionist painter Kees van Dongen. Yet, the style is uniquely Cassigneul, particularly in the air of mystery that surrounds his enigmatic, glamorous subject. Her dress and hat beautifully contrast her porcelain skin and the vast sea of blue that stretches behind her, while sailboats in the distance lend the scene a feeling of transience. Full of air and lightness while exuding a distinctly French spirit, this extraordinary composition is a remarkable work of contemporary French art.

Born in Paris in 1935, Cassigneul studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, holding his first one-man exhibition at the young age of 17. Since that first show, his work has been widely exhibited throughout the world, particularly in Western Europe, the United States, and Japan, where he enjoys an especially devoted following. Featuring vibrant scenes of sophisticated women at leisure, his captivating oeuvre is beloved by collectors worldwide for its vivid color palette and sophisticated subjects.

Circa 1975