André Favory (1889-1937) - Nu de dos

ANDRÉ FAVORY, Paris, 1888–1937
Nude of the back
Oil on panel, framed
Dimensions of the work: 65 × 53 cm
Dimensions with frame: 83 × 71 cm

Signed “A. Favory” in the lower right.

THE ARTIST AND THE PERIOD OF THE WORK

André Favory (1888–1937) is a French painter associated with the School of Paris. Trained at the Académie Julian, he was initially drawn to Cubism and to Cézanne’s work. After World War I, his stays in Belgium and his deepening study of Rubens led him toward more corporeal, colorful, and expressive painting. He then dedicated himself mainly to landscapes, portraits, and female nudes, which today constitute the most sought-after part of his oeuvre.

Presented at the Salon des Tuileries in 1936, this Nude of the Back belongs to the final period of his career, shortly before his death in 1937. The exact date of its execution is not inscribed on the painting: 1936 surely corresponds to its exhibition, and not necessarily to the year it was painted. The solid construction of the body, the energetic brushwork, and the range of reds, pinks, and blues are characteristic of Favory’s maturity.

On the back of the panel:

– old label partially preserved from the 1936 Salon des Tuileries;
– handwritten note “André Favory”;
– artist’s address: “2, rue Auguste-Vitu”;
– exhibition number: “2”;
– old label from the framer A. Focardi, 33 rue L.-N.-Oël, Cannes;
– stamp “15 F.”

The work is in good condition, though restoration would enhance it. It shows a few crackles and a visible fissure in the photos.

Golden frame with a wide molding, with a light-colored fabric mat. An old label from framer A. Focardi in Cannes is on the reverse.

The Salon des Tuileries 1936 label and the precise identification of the work add to its interest.