Kees van Dongen

Private Collection
Galerie Cazeau-Béraudière, Paris
Acquired from the above after 2004

Lodève, Musée de Lodève, Van Dongen du nord et du sud, 2004, no. 62, illustrated in color in the catalogue

Executed on cream wove paper. Sheet is taped to a window mat along the upper edge on the verso. The verso shows some slight time darkening and a few very faint fox marks. The colors are extremely bright and fresh and apart from a few very faint studio stains the work is in excellent condition.
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.

The present work is the first known preparatory composition for the celebrated oil of the same title, Le Quiétude. Executed circa 1916-18, Le Quiétude (Couple nu) features two elongated interlocking figures framed beneath two doves. The saturated deep blues and fervent reds which dominate the composition are reminiscent of the Fauvist masterpiece by Henri Matisse from 1910 entitled La Danse. The strong color contrasts and mannerist tendency toward amore elegant and elongated forms were inspired not only by  Matisse, but also by van Dongen's sojourn in Egypt in March 1913. During this trip the artist was deeply moved by the severe light and color contrasts of the Egyptian landscape, which in turn motivated an inevitable evolution in his technique.