Les chevaux passent by André Brasilier
$268,500.00
French I b. 1929
Les chevaux passent
Signed “André Brasilier” (lower right)
Oil on canvas
In this brilliant display of color and dynamism, the renowned French artist André Brasilier captures the essence of his signature subject: the horse. Melding powerful expressionism with striking atmospheric effects, Les chevaux passent captures a dreamlike interplay between nature and humanity, where a galloping herd of jet-black horses and their riders dance across the shoreline of a colorful beach.
Brasilier's majestic horses, rendered in bold simplicity, evoke an atmosphere of energetic strength and elegance. His technique of applying large, bold swaths of color brings depth and balance, and his studied understanding of equine anatomy and movement shines through. The landscape is rendered with a vibrant brilliance that epitomizes Brasilier's singular style, with the rich blues of the sky perfectly complemented by the soft pinks of the clouds and shore.
Born to artist parents, Brasilier was steeped in the art world from a young age. He trained at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and swiftly gained recognition, winning both the Prix Florence Blumenthal in 1952 and the Prix de Rome in 1953. Brasilier's works have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, including a retrospective at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg—making him, along with Pablo Picasso, the only artists to be awarded a retrospective at the renowned institution during their lifetimes. His works, exhibited with the likes of Braque, Chagall and Miro, are celebrated worldwide and reside in prominent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Canvas: 57 1/2“ high x 44 7/8” wide (146.05 x 113.98 cm)
Frame: 66 1/4“ high x 53 3/4” wide x 1 3/4“ deep (168.28 x 136.53 x 4.45 cm)