“Painstakingly composed with small touches of brilliant colour, Couture sous la grande pergola illustrates Henri Martin’s mastery of Neo-Impressionist technique, as well as his penchant for classical motifs. Depicting an outdoor scene, this work captures the vibrant effect of sunlight coming through the foliage of a pergola in subtle variations of perfectly harmonised tones. Decomposing the spectrum of light into small brushstrokes of pure colour, Couture sous la grande pergola shows Martin’s ability as a colourist, as well as a Neo-Impressionist painter.

In its composition, Couture sous la grande pergola translates the classical values of symmetry, order and structure. The symmetrical, receding rows of columns in the background are counterbalanced by the two sinuous silhouettes of the women sewing in the foreground. The presence of strong vertical lines lends the image strength and rhythm, enhancing the decorative undertones of the subject. In its rigour, the work exemplifies how Martin was able to depict the life of his time in classical terms, while the technique – modern, fragmented and vibrant – adds a fleeting sense of beauty and a delicate harmony to the picture.”

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