Paul-Elie Gernez, Cabaret Dancer, 1920s, Oil on Canvas, Framed

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Description

Paul Elie Gernez.
French ( b.1888 - d.1948 ).
Danseuse De Cabaret. (Cabaret Dancer)
Oil On Canvas.
Signed Lower Left.
… Read more Paul Elie Gernez.
French ( b.1888 - d.1948 ).
Danseuse De Cabaret. (Cabaret Dancer)
Oil On Canvas.
Signed Lower Left.
Image size 15.6 inches x 12.2 inches ( 39.5cm x 31cm ).
Frame size 21.5 inches x 18.3 inches ( 54.5cm x 46.5cm ).

Original oil painting is by the French artist Paul Elie Gernez and dates from the 1920s.
The painting is presented and supplied in its original Montparnasse frame (which is shown in these photographs).
The painted surfaces, the canvas and the frame are entirely in their original untouched condition. No restoration, cleaning or conservation has been performed on the piece.
This antique painting is in very good decorative condition, commensurate with its age. It represents its age and era very well and is supplied ready to hang and display.
The painting is signed lower left.

Paul Elie Gernez was a really interesting figure in French art history. He was an artist, watercolourist, draughtsman and illustrator and became known for his delicate and lyrical style.

He was born on January 27, 1888 in Onnaing, near Valenciennes, and showed an interest in art and a remarkable talent from an early age. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Rouen, the École Supérieure de Valenciennes, and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris

He initially worked as a decorator of earthenware, then as an artist in the High School at Valenciennes. In 1911 he was appointed as a drawing professor in Honfleur in, where he worked for many years. He was very content there, with a job that allowed him to live, but also allowed him to the time to paint. It is not surprising that the port of Honfleur became a recurring theme in much of his own work. For many years Gernez divided his time between Paris and Honfleur.

His first exhibition in 1917 led to the first of many honorary distinctions, culminating in him becoming a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1923.

Whilst he painted most of his life in Normandy, he did manage to visit and paint other parts of France, including Caen, Deauville, Fecamp, Le Havre, Rouen and Martigues.

Gernez worked hard and his career spanned several decades. He became quite versatile, working not only in oil painting but also excelling in watercolors, drawings, and illustrations. His early works leaned toward Impressionism, with a focus on light, colour, and everyday scenes. By the late 1920s he embraced a more structured and formal style, characterised by a greater emphasis on geometric forms and an analytical approach to composition. He experimented with the fragmentation of objects and the play of light and shadow in a similar way to the works of Cézanne and the early Cubists. His style continued to develop though and in his later years devolved into a softer, more intimate approach, often using delicate brushwork, muted colours, and a poetic atmosphere. His subjects were varied, including still lifes, portraits, landscapes (especially scenes of Normandy and the French coast), floral compositions, and elegant figures, such as dancers and cabaret performers.
Gernez also created illustrations for books and publications, combining his fine draughtsmanship with a storytelling flair. His skills as a draughtsman revealed his keen eye for detail and an ability to capture a form with precision and sensitivity. His understanding of anatomy and movement brought a real dynamic to his figurative work in particular.
Paul-Élie Gernez’s works have been exhibited widely, particularly in France, both during his lifetime and posthumously. He frequently exhibited at Paris salons, notably the Salon des Artistes Français and Salon d’Automne — two of the most prestigious annual art exhibitions in France. He was also associated with regional exhibitions, especially in Normandy (Rouen, Honfleur, and surrounding areas), where his reputation was particularly strong.
There was a retrospective exhibition of his works in Paris in 1969, with a presentation text from his friend Robert Rey.

Gernez worked relentlessly until 1942 when a serious illness forced him to rest. Around this time, he suffered a stroke. Interestingly, Gernez was one of three artists who were examined and studied by the famous French neurologist Théophile Alajouanine, who was looking at the influence of a cerebral stroke on artistic ability. In the case of Gernez, his stroke did not diminish his ability to produce art, but there was a change in his style, which seemed to become less poetic as if he had lost some of his spontaneity. (The painting which we present for sale, The Cabaret Dancer, was completed two decades before Gernez had his stroke.) Gernez went on to have a serious operation in 1946, and died two years later, on September 6, 1948. There is a plaque on the house where he died at 9 Rue Guy de la Brosse, Paris, which reads “Le Peintre Paul-Elie Gernez 1888-1948 est mort dans cette maison”.

His legacy is that of a versatile and innovative artist who was not afraid to explore different styles and techniques. His ability to adapt and evolve his artistic vision allowed him to remain relevant in a rapidly changing art world, and his contributions continue to be appreciated by art enthusiasts and historians today. Museums in Normandy have preserved and shown his work, including the Musée Eugène Boudin in Honfleur. This museum is dedicated to regional artists and impressionist/post-impressionist painters connected to the Norman coast. His paintings occasionally appear in exhibitions focusing on early 20th-century French art or Norman school artists. His watercolours and figures in oils continue to be admired and are collected in private galleries specialising in French figurative and decorative art. Gernez’s artworks are also part of permanent collections in institutions such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Musée Eugène Boudin in Honfleur, ensuring ongoing public access to his art.

“Danseuse De Cabaret” by Paul Élie Gernez (1888–1948) is a captivating oil on canvas that captures the lively, theatrical spirit of early 20th-century Parisian cabaret. Gernez’s dancer is a vibrant vision, emerging from a flurry of broad, expressive brushstrokes in pastel blues, creams, and golds. Her face, meticulously detailed with rich makeup and a confident gaze, draws the eye instantly, framed by an elaborate, colourful feathered headdress. She wears elegant black gloves and a lavish costume, hinting at movement and drama, yet much of her figure dissolves into the swirling, textured background. The composition beautifully balances refinement and spontaneity, with thick impastos and delicate detailing creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Signed boldly in red at the lower left, this work exemplifies Gernez’s flair for capturing fleeting moments with energy and sophistication.

The 1930s in France saw the continuation of modernist movements, and this style would have fit within the cabaret culture of Paris — a blend of sensuality, theatricality, and artistic freedom.
Artists such as Jean-Gabriel Domergue and Kees van Dongen depicted glamorous women and showgirls in a similarly stylized, expressive fashion. This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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