Auguste Herbin

Private Collection, France (acquired in the 1960s)
Private Collection, France (by descent from the above and sold: Sotheby's, Paris, December 5, 2012, lot 26)
Acquired at the above sale

This work is in good condition. The canvas is not lined. A close inspection reveals some stable hairline shrinkage in the darker pigments of the bouquet and vase, and the orange line in the lower left corner. There are some scattered tiny spots of paint-loss in the background (barely visible to the naked eye) with associated tiny spots of retouching visible under UV light. Examination under UV light reveals some small spots of retouching around the edges of the longest leaves in the upper right quadrant, a few small spots of retouching in the dark pigment in the centre of the composition and some very minor spots of retouching to the edges of the purple and red flowers in the upper left quadrant.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

It was in 1908, soon after moving into the Bateau-Lavoir and taking up the adjacent studio to that of Picasso, that Auguste Herbin first adopted the principles of Cubism. In contrast to the approach of Georges Braque or indeed that of Juan Gris, Herbin was quick to reject the dogma of achromia and its strict vocabulary, preferring instead to focus on the purification and simplification of volume, the pairing of geometric forms and vibrant colors. The innovative paintings executed by Herbin between 1908 and 1912 earned him the respect and recognition of the greatest collectors of the period, including Léonce Rosenberg, Wilhelm Uhde and even Alfred Flechtheim, who all purchased work directly from the artist’s studio.

Particularly characteristic of his 1910-12 compositions, Composition au bouquet is testament to the artist’s mastery in the assembly of form and color, and with its succession of colored planes rhythmically punctuated with decorative elements it reveals an awareness of the research being conducted by artists such as Robert Delaunay and Fernand Léger. The vigor of the artist’s touch, the shimmer and sheer variety of the colors and the richness of the ornamental motifs elevate this bouquet of flowers to the ranks of the artist's most beautiful Cubist compositions; it is a veritable hymn to Herbin’s creativity and joy in painting.