February 2013 Auction Ends Wednesday, February 6th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2013
Museum-worthy autograph letter signed by French artist Paul Gauguin, here accepting an invitation early in his career to exhibit with fellow Impressionist artists. Dated 3 April 1879 to French artist Camille Pissarro, Gauguin accepts membership in the ''Societe Anonyme Cooperative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs,'' formed in 1873 by Pissarro, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley for the purpose of exhibiting their artwork independently (largely because art critics of the time lampooned their work). Letter in French on four pages of card style stationery reads in full: ''My Dear Mr. Pissarro / I accept with pleasure the invitation that you and Mr. Degas were kind enough to extend to me. And naturally in that case I shall abide by all the rules that govern your Societe. Based on this decision, I also have the membership dues available. I will probably see you at Miss Latouche's and we will talk about this. Yours truly with many thanks, / P Gauguin''. Pissarro, one of the original members of the Societe, had mentored Gauguin throughout the 1870's and, by extending the invitation to join his cooperative of artists, allowed Pissarro to exhibit his work at the 4th Impressionist Exhibition of 1879; Gauguin did in fact exhibit there for the first time in 1879, displaying a sculpture of his son Emile. This was also the first year of the annual exhibition that Pissarro, Degas and Gauguin all displayed their work. Although remembered as a Post-Impressionist artist because of his bold colorful style, Gauguin's early work was heavily influenced by Pissarro, with whom he painted frequently. The reference to Madame LaTouche likely refers to the household of Louis LaTouche, a landscape painter who displayed Impressionist paintings in his art shop. It was there that the art collaborative was originally formed. The 5.25'' x 8'' letter shows expected folds, tape residue and minor soiling. Overall very good condition. A fantastic letter on the early days of the modern art movement.
Paul Gauguin Autograph Letter Signed to Camille Pissarro -- Extraordinarily Scarce Letter Accepting an Invitation to Join the Impressionist Painters
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