Jean Piaubert (1900-2002) - Bagatelle

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I am offering an oil on cardboard signed PIAUBERT, for Jean PIAUBERT (1900-2002), a referenced and well-regarded painter. This work dates from the first half of the 20th century, before his abstract period that made him famous. This painter, who lived at 182 bis Boulevard Pereire in PARIS, lived near the Bois de Boulogne and painted works originating from the Gardens of Bagatelle of his era (see photos No. 11 and No. 12 of another similar painting from the same period bearing the same signature with an original mark on the back of the work).


My painting represents a verdant, wooded scene from a late afternoon where the light filters through the tree branches. The natural brightness, visible as chiaroscuro on the trunks of the trees, sweeps the work laterally from left to right. One also notices a strong contrast between a lean pictorial surface on the trunks of these very tall trees, revealing the bark and the veins of the wood, and a much thicker pictorial material in the upper part, marked in the foliage at the tops of the branches with impastos and relief textures. The whole vegetation gives the impression of a nature that is very present and still alive.

The dominant tones are deep, satin greens in a texture characteristic of this artist, as well as browns and ochers to create a certain mood, a calm but sometimes mysterious atmosphere. The brightness filtering through the trees illuminates, like reflections, certain parts of the ground covered with lush, green grass, producing a play of elongated shadows that guide the eye toward the depth of the painting. The perspective is built from a sequence of vertical trunks placed obliquely or upright, guiding the eye on a stroll between a clearing and an urban forest. PIAUBERT seems to favor an introspective atmosphere rather than meticulous realism. This construction recalls the artistic explorations of the 20th century where composition is not primarily a faithful reproduction of reality but rather a sensitive interpretation at a specific moment of the day by a painter-artist.

The outlines are sometimes blurred and the textures contrast; the soft light appears subdued. This work sits in a naturalist vein, imbued with a certain lyricism. The choice of a thick medium reinforces the depiction of nature. This relief gives an impression of sculpture typical of a work that also values the artist's gesture, thereby giving personality to the piece.

Frame dimensions: 46 cm × 38 cm (6F)
Dimensions of the work: 40.5 cm x 33 cm

Located in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, the construction of the Bagatelle Gardens was completed in the 18th century in a record time of 100 days. It is at the Château de la Muette, a hotspot of libertinism, that the great personalities of the court used to go. The name “Bagatelle” would therefore derive from this flirtatious past. Left to neglect for much of the 20th century, these gardens were fully rehabilitated in 1970 and no longer resemble the past pictorial depictions of this place, such as the painting signed PIAUBERT, which adds even more interest to the work.

At the end of the slideshow, I propose reviewing the different valuations of Jean PIAUBERT's works (photo 8) by a Paris-based auction house; next, I propose an appraisal of this painting by the same auction house (photo 9), and finally a non-exhaustive list of some of his works exhibited in national museums (photo 10).


The photos were taken in high resolution (64 MB) in natural light and without any retouching. The image quality will depend on each viewer's screen and then on the lighting in the room where the painting will be displayed.



This authentic and rare oil on cardboard by this artist reveals his original style, which later led him to the abstract art he is known for. This work, a century old, remains in perfect condition for its age, with perhaps a few time-worn signs that are hardly visible. It was cleaned recently and then a satin UV-protective varnish by Winsor & Newton was applied. This oil on cardboard was pasted by a professional onto a 10 mm thick wooden board to stiffen it and to insert it into a floater frame ("cadre flottant"), a term often mistranslated into French as "caisse américaine." This model of wooden frame is old and has been restored, glued, nailed and stapled, then repainted black with an imitation of semi-transparent forest green patina on the edge and on the front border. The back and interior of this frame are satin black. This frame, now very sturdy, is guaranteed for life.

The ensemble, ready to hang, evokes a mysterious stroll in nature conducive to meditation.