Nicola Ortis dit Poucette (1935-2006) - Cavaliers Chevaux dans une arène (Vendu sans prix de réserve)

We present to you this very beautiful mixed-media work on paper depicting a circle of colorful horsemen by the naïve painter Nicola Ortis, known as Poucette (1935–2006).

In the center of a wide circular movement in brown, gray and red tones, a small troop of riders stands out for its vivid colors.

The work is signed “Poucette” at the bottom.

Title: Cavaliers in an Abstract Composition

Technique: Mixed media on paper (gouache and oil)

Artist: Nicola Ortis known as Poucette (1935–2006)

Artwork format: 38 × 55 cm

Condition: Good condition, some defects

Nicola Ortis, called Poucette (or Poucette de Saint-Germain), born Lucette Guillaumin, was a French painter, draftsman and illustrator born on November 19, 1935 in Paris and who died in 2006. A true emblematic figure of the bohemian quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, she began to gain recognition at the age of sixteen by selling her works directly on the terraces of cafes. Her distinctive style, linked to the naïve art movement, is characterized by a highly colorful dreamlike universe where Parisian street scenes, poetic animals, circuses and urban landscapes mingle.

In 1958, her talent enabled her to illustrate prestigious literary works, notably a two-volume edition of Montesquieu’s Persian Letters as well as the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. Her fame quickly crossed French borders thanks to several long stays in the United States, a country where her works enjoyed strong commercial success and entered the auction market. She regularly exhibited in major capitals such as Paris and London, while participating in the famous Salon Comparaisons in 1974. Versatile, Poucette undertook large commissions for frescoes and wall panels for figures such as Lord Warwick, Swiss palaces and even London clubs. She also diversified her activity by creating film décor, notably for the American actor Jerry Lewis.