Lebasque was a founding member of the Salon d’Automne in 1903, establishing the exhibition alongside his close friend Matisse. The Salon quickly became a hub for avant-garde artists who sought an alternative to the conservative official Salon. Two years later a group of artists exhibited there who included Rouault, Derain, Vuillard, Manguin and Matisse. They were dubbed ‘Les Fauves’ of 'The Wild Beasts' for their stylistic ‘savagery’. The critic Vauxcelles noted that Lebasque’s talent arrived "in the midst of the roaring of the unchained beasts".
While Lebasque shared certain stylistic elements with Les Fauves, particularly flattening of the picture plane, he blended this with a sophisticated, subtle fluidity. With a colourful palette, he painted domestic scenes with his family as models, still lifes, landscapes, portraits and nudes. The Mediterranean landscape of the south of France, in particular, inspired many of his sun-drenched works, capturing both the brightness of the region and the gentle rhythms of everyday life. His colour palette was typically warm and luminous, reflecting his fascination with the effects of sunlight and atmosphere.
Lebasque is celebrated for blending the Fauvist emphasis on colour and expressiveness with a softer, more poetic sensibility. If you'd like to add an original Henri Lebasque painting to your art collection, please contact us today.
To enquire about one of our beautiful pieces simply fill out this form and a member of our team will be in touch with you. We can also answer queries about exhibitions, private viewings, restorations and more.
If there's a piece you're particularly interested in, we'd suggest taking advantage of our Artist's apartment for a complimentary one to two night stay while you visit the gallery and the historic surroundings.
