Maternité, femme en bleu devant la fenêtre by Louis Valtat

Louis Valtat
1869-1952 | French

Maternité, femme en bleu devant la fenêtre

Signed “L.V.” (lower right)
Oil on board

Vibrant hues of crimson reds, golden yellows and cool blues define this remarkable Post-Impressionist oil on canvas by the French painter Louis Valtat. Maternité, femme en bleu devant la fenêtre not only exemplifies his signature style but also explores a subject rarely explored by male artists of the time—the quiet, everyday world of women and motherhood. This composition is Valtat at his best, capturing the essence of domestic tranquility with an arresting vibrancy.

Valtat masterfully depicts an intimate domestic scene, bathed in warm afternoon light. In the foreground, a woman dressed in blue sits gracefully at a table, while behind her, a second woman dressed in red cradles a baby. The interplay of colors is striking: the rich red walls contrast harmoniously with the cooler blue tones of the dress, window and table, creating a dynamic yet serene portrayal of domestic life.

Born in Normandy in 1869, Valtat enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts at the age of 17, where he studied under the great French figure painters Gustave Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre. There, he began his association with several artists who would influence the trajectory of his career, including Henri Matisse, Édouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard, Paul Signac and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, with whom he remained lifelong friends. He was awarded the Jauvin d’Attainville prize in 1890 and exhibited for the first time at the Salon des Artistes Indépendants in 1893.

Renoir introduced Valtat’s works to Ambroise Vollard, the renowned art dealer. Vollard identified Valtat as one of the most exciting painters working in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. On Renoir’s advice, Vollard made an agreement with Valtat to purchase almost all of the artist’s work for the first decade of the 20th century (1902 – 1912), becoming his dealer and agent.

The relationship was a fruitful one; Vollard went on to organize Valtat’s first solo exhibition at his gallery and submitted Valtat’s works to other exhibitions in Paris. In 1927, Louis Valtat was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, which was considered the premier order of France. Throughout his career, Valtat remained true to his unique style, never completely associated with a particular art movement but was influenced by many. Today, his works are found in important collections around the globe, including the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, the Musée des Beaux-Art in Bordeaux and many others.

Circa 1899

Canvas: 17 3/8“ high x 21” wide (44.13 x 53.34 cm)
Frame: 29 1/2“ high x 33” wide x 3 3.4“ deep (74.92 x 83.82 x 9.53 cm)

Literature:
J. Valtat, Louis Valtat: Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, Paris, 1977, vol. I, p. 27, no. 242 (illustrated; with incorrect support)

Provenance:
Anonymous sale, Hôtel des Chevau-Légers, Versailles, 6 July 1961, lot 84
Private collection, Paris
Private collection, New York