Auguste Herbin

Private Collection, Germany
Sale: Christie's, London, 23rd June 1997, lot 12
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The canvas is not lined. There are two small spots of retouching to cover tack holes in the top two corners, and a small area of retouching to the centre of the upper edge. There is a 3 by 2cm. area of retouching, as well as two small lines of retouching in the lower left corner and two further small spots of retouching to the lower right corner. All retouching is visible under UV light. There are a few small scattered paint losses which have been stablised and some scattered craquelure, mainly where the paint is thickest. Overall this work is in good condition. Colours: overall fairly accurate, although the pink tones are deeper in the original.
"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."

The present work is one of fifteen sun-drenched Fauvist works that Auguste Herbin painted during his sojourn in Corsica in 1907. The artist had joined the Fauvist movement towards the end of 1906, and the brightness of the colours and sumptuous paint handling reveal an artist embracing the possibilities of the new movement. The brilliant sunlight refracting on the water provided the artist with an ideal opportunity to create a dazzling mosaic of colour in the foreground, against the backdrop of the brightly painted waterfront of the Port de Bastia. It was a scene the artist was to return to on several occasions, and is a vibrant example of Fauvist painting at the height of the movement's infatuation with the possibilities of colour.