Artwork Page for Valmy and Léa

Details / Information for Valmy and Léa

Valmy and Léa

c. 1885–95

Jean Béraud

(French, 1849–1935)
Culture
France, 20th century
Medium
brush and brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over graphite
Support
Beige wove paper, laid down on cardboard
Measurements
Sheet: 36 x 51.7 cm (14 3/16 x 20 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2008.407
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

A forerunner to the cabaret, the café-concert was an irresistible subject for artists working in fin-de-siècle Paris. Here, the performers are illuminated by the unnatural glow of gas footlights, while the musicians in the orchestra, seen mostly from behind, are tucked in the shadowy foreground. The neck of the double bass extends above the crowd, drawing the viewer’s eye to the climactic cancan.
A horizontally oriented brush and brown wash drawing depicts a stage performance, looking over the backs of orchestra musicians at two dancers. A woman in a white tutu and a man in a tuxedo dance at center stage. To the left, a tall arch features a caryatid, a column carved to resemble a woman. Glowing white globes and dark trees fill the background. Monochromatic brown tones contrast with bright white highlights.

Valmy and Léa

c. 1885–95

Jean Béraud

(French, 1849–1935)
France, 20th century

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