Léa Lafugie (1890-1972) - Danseuse de Phnom Penh

This drawing by Léa Lafugie depicts a Cambodian dancer in an elegant and highly constructed pose, where the gesture of the hand becomes the most expressive element of the image. The body is treated in a sober manner, with soft flat areas and a reduced palette of beiges, ochres, and blacks, which gives the whole work great delicacy. The face is partly hidden, which distances the portrait from mere realism and brings it closer to an almost symbolic figure. The jewelry, bracelets, and the long lines of the fingers emphasize the refinement of the dance and the importance of ornament in this representation. The bare, almost empty background isolates the figure and concentrates all attention on the silhouette. One can also sense the artist's interest in Southeast Asian cultures. The drawing does not aim to tell a specific scene, but to capture a moment of suspended grace.

Léa Lafugie (1890-1972)
Dancer of Phnom Penh
Watercolor and gouache on paper
Signed at the bottom right.
Dimensions: 25 cm x 31 cm
(Paper creased in places)
Careful packaging
(Not shipped to the USA)