Chaim Soutine

Harrison Collection, Rambouillet, France
Mr & Mrs Jack I. Poses, New York (acquired by 1973; sale: Sotheby's, New York, 10th May 1995, lot 370)
Private Collection (purchased at the above sale)

Paris, Orangerie des Tuilleries, Chaim Soutine, 1973, illustrated in the catalogue
New York, Gallery Bellman, Chaim Soutine, 1983-84, no. 30, illustrated in the catalogue

Henri Serouya, Soutine, 1967, illustrated
Pierre Courthion, Peintre du déchirant, Lausanne, 1972, illustrated pp. 111 & 279B
E. Hoffman, Burlington Magazine, July 1973, p. 485
Raymond Cogniat, Soutine, 1973, illustrated p. 60
Collection du Jean Walter et Paul Guillaume (exhibition catalogue), Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris, 1984, p. 254
Maurice Tuchman, Esti Dunow & Klaus Perls, Chaim Soutine (1893-1943), Catalogue raisonné, Werkverzeichnis, Cologne, 1993, vol. I, no. 151, illustrated p. 285

The paper is laid down on canvas. There are two lines of retouching running down the right edge with two associated 5cm. lines in the same area. There is a 5cm. line of retouching to the lower centre and scattered spots and lines to the centre left. There are areas of fluorescence under UV light to the lower left edge and to the centre of the bottom right quadrant, probably due to a previous uneven cleaning. All retouching is visible under UV light. Apart from some areas of stable paint shrinkage to the right half, this work is in good condition. Colours: Overall fairly accurate although deeper in the catalogue.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Les escaliers à Chartres is one of three paintings of the same subject executed in 1933.  'In Soutine's work the 1930s are marked by the so-called Chartres period... They [Marcellin and Madeleine Casting] invited him to their residence in Lèves very close to Chartres.  It was at the Casting's house where he met Eric Satie and Maurice Sachs.  In Lèves Soutine painted a large portion of his entire work of that period.  He resumed the landscape painting he had abandoned in 1925'  (M. Vallès-Bled, in Chaim Soutine (exhibition catalogue), Musei d'Arte Moderna, Lugano, 1995, p. 174).  Typical of Soutine's works of the late 1920's and early 30's he has set up his easel in an obscure part of the town as he disliked people watching him paint.  In the present work the beautifully painted, almost translucent, stone staircase is the focal point.  In order to closely depict the light in this scene the artist relied on strong contrasts of chiaroscuro.  The present work is a remarkable example of this technique.

COMP ID: 436D07008_COMP
Fig I., Photograph of Chaim Soutine circa 1935