Étienne DINET 1861 - 1929 Lot n° 50

Etienne DINET 1861 - 1929 L'envolée Watercolour and coloured pencil with gouache highlights on paper Signed lower left "E. Dinet" Illustration for Le Printemps des Coeurs In a letter dated 15 December 1902 addressed to a sponsor who asked him for a unique copy of Le Printemps des Coeurs, the artist describes our watercolour precisely, intended to illustrate the third tale of the collection: the smoke of the burnt palm trees embracing in the sky under as a loving apparition. Dinet places it as the fifth illustration of the third poem in the book. The tale describes the thwarted loves of two young people who, separated during their lifetime, find themselves after their death in the fire of the palms that grew on their falls. In the same letter, Dinet specifies his technique: I must warn you that, the profession of pure watercolour does not suit me, I am in the habit of attaching coloured pencils which I have experienced to be solid. This technique gives a beautiful depth and a very specific vibration to our watercolor. Le Printemps des coeurs, a collection of three Saharan legends brought together by Dinet's great friend, Sliman ben Ibrahim, translated and illustrated by Dinet, had a great success and was followed by private commissions as soon as it was published in 1902. Based on the reality that Dinet encounters daily in Bou Saada, his illustrations translate the magic and the mystery of oriental tales of which our watercolour is one of the most dreamlike examples . 22.50 × 15 cm Provenance: Private collection, France Comment: Watercolour and coloured pencil heightened with gouache on paper; signed lower left Estimations: 6,000 - 8,000€ ¤ Lot temporarily imported: