André Paternot (1894-1968) - Untitled

Oil on panel depicting a village landscape in western France by André Paternot (1894–1968), a Belgian painter associated with the École Belge Moderne.

Executed circa the 1940s, the composition presents a rural village scene with clustered rooftops and church spires set beneath a dynamic sky. A tree in the foreground and gently rolling fields structure the composition and lead the viewer’s eye toward the village, creating depth and balance.

The painting is executed in a modernist, post-impressionist manner, characterized by confident, layered brushwork and a strong sense of atmosphere. The subject reflects the artist’s interest in regional landscapes of western France, a theme common in his work.

The reverse of the panel bears an inscription “Mortain Bretagne”. Mortain is a town located in western France (Normandy). The mention “Bretagne” was sometimes used historically in a broader or informal sense to refer to western France, or may reflect a later annotation. The inscription is therefore considered an indicative geographical reference rather than a definitive title.

The work is signed lower left and presented in a vintage wooden frame (likely not original).

Small nail holes are visible at the corners of the panel, consistent with common studio practice of the period, as panels were often temporarily fixed to a support during painting. The panel is stable, and these traces are consistent with age and technique.

Provenance: Origin: Private collection, Belgium

Dimensions:

Artwork size (panel): Height: 40 cm; Width: 36 cm
Framed dimensions: 52 × 47 × 3.5 cm

This work will be sent flat and securely packaged.