Henri Fantin Latour

HENRI FANTIN LATOUR (Grenoble, January 14, 1836-Buré, August 25, 1904)
"La Vérite".
Oil on canvas.
Work exhibited at:
-Salon of 1891, Paris, n.1901.
-Tolosa, 1893.
-Retrospective of the work of Fantin-Latour, Paris, Palace of Fine Arts, 1906, n.237.
-Exposition de peinture française, Ecole du XIXème Siècle, Amsterdam, EJ Van-Wisselingh and Co, 1929, n.27.
-Amsterdam, EJ Van Wisselingh and Co, 1938, n.8.
Work reproduced in:
-A. Julien, Fantin-Latour, sa Vie et ses Amitiés, Paris 1909, p. 208.
-Madame Fantin-Latour, Catalogue de l'œuvre complète d'Henri Fantin-Latour, Paris 1911, p.151 n.1435.
Presents traces of the label "EJ Van Wisselingh and Co, Amsterdam".
Measurements: 100 x 81 cm; 126 x 106 cm (frame).
"La Vérité" first saw the light of day at the Paris Salon of 1891, marking a key point in Fantin-Latour's artistic career. In this oil on canvas, the nude female figure emerges with an astonishing delicacy, where the artist takes special care in the chromatic treatment, highlighting the texture and softness of the skin. The soft lighting envelops the model with an almost ethereal halo, creating an intimate atmosphere full of mystery.
This work reflects Fantin-Latour's talent for going beyond simple portraiture and capturing the deep essence of her subjects. Her realism is neither cold nor mechanical, but filled with a visual poetry that transforms each brushstroke into a gesture charged with restrained emotion. Although at a time when the avant-garde was beginning to shake up the art scene, Fantin-Latour maintained his fidelity to an academic tradition, but with a very personal touch, a sensibility that makes his work breathe and communicate something far beyond the visible.
"La Vérité" is not only an example of the painter's technical virtuosity, but also a reflection of his ability to interweave symbolism and psychology, creating a composition rich in meaning and emotion. This piece belongs to the artist's mature stage, when his palette became more sober and monochromatic, characteristic of his interior works, and where each element seems to be arranged with a discreet and profound elegance.
Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904), born in Grenoble and died in Buré, was a key painter in the transition between the academic tradition and the new artistic currents of 19th century France. After facing initial rejections at the Paris Salon in 1859, he joined a circle close to the future Impressionists, such as Manet, Renoir and Monet, with whom he shared exhibitions and artistic debates. In a letter of 1865, Fantin-Latour revealed his enthusiasm for this group, although he also recognized that the effervescence of that time would be short-lived.Beyond individual painting, Fantin-Latour renewed the collective portrait.
His work is characterized by a masterful mastery of chiaroscuro and an intimate atmosphere, moving away from impressionist currents to maintain a commitment to academic painting. Fantin-Latour had an important recognition during his lifetime, exhibiting at the prestigious Paris Salon.