A stylish lady strolls with her dog and two children along the shores of the French resort town of Deauville in this brilliantly hued composition by Jean-Pierre Cassigneul. Entitled Promenade sur les Planches Deauville, the brilliantly hued work is a study in serenity and sophistication, embodying the appealing elegance of Cassigneul’s work. The vibrant scene exemplifies his striking portraits of young society women that are both dramatically contemporary and classically elegant. This work, however, is set apart from others of his oeuvre due to his inclusion of two young children, who add a sense of youthful joie de vivre to this charming composition.

Cassigneul’s masterful technique reveals the strong influence of Les Nabis, particularly in its avant-garde color palette and flat spatial compositions. The cool blue hues that dominate the composition are perfectly accented with pops of color, layered in such a skillful manner as to convey a sense of harmony. Expressionist painter Kees van Dongen was another important influence on the young Cassigneul, whose portraits resemble van Dongen’s elongated, sharply contoured female forms. In the present piece, Cassigneul’s chic model saunters gracefully with turquoise waters behind her, while the puppy and children at her feet lend further charm to the overall scene.

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.