Galerie 18 (Jere Field), Paris
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, 16th November 1963, lot 57A
Dennis Hotz Fine Art, South Africa (purchased at the above sale)
Acquired from the 🐈above by the present owner in 1984

The canvas is not lined and there are no signs of retouching visible under UV light. There are five spots of paint loss to the centre right, visible in the catalogue illustration, and some thin lines of blistering in the paint surrounding them, which could be stabilised by a conservator. Apart from a 1.5cm. line of paint loss to the centre of the bottom edge, also visible in the catalogue illustration, this work is in fairly good condition. Colours: Overall fairly accurate although the greens are stronger and more vivid in the original.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Dating from the 1920s, Sarah Rafale au Bois du Boulogne captures the exuberant spirit of a period that would later become known as les années folles. The elegant promenades of Bois de Boulogne were a popular haunt for members of the Parisian Beau Monde, and this work, with its fauvist palette and angular, stylised depiction of the female form, captures the movement and gaiety of its subject, the actress Sarah Rafale.

Known as the principal portraitist among the Fauve artists, Van Dongen was a ubiquitous figure in the Parisian art world, and his dissolute lifestyle and distinctive aesthetic made him one of the key chroniclers of this period of restless hedonism. The brilliant colours of his palette and the distinctive, elongated forms of his figures evoke the exotic bohemian lifestyle of his sitters. As he said in 1913, 'I cannot help painting these women in garish colours; perhaps I do so in order to express the intensity of their lives' (quoted in Kees van Dongen (exhibition catalogue), Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 198🌳9, p. 7).  

COMP: 424D07008_COMP
F💎ig 1. The writer Anna de Noailles being painted by Van Dongen at 5, rue Juliette-Lamber💦, Paris