A major rediscovery of a masterpiece from Paul Gauguin's Brittany period is set to make waves in the art world as "Danse bretonne" (Breton Dance) goes up for sale at Artcurial's Impressionist & Modern Art auction on Tuesday, December 9 in Paris. Created in 1889, this remarkable work encapsulates the essence of Gauguin's post-impressionist vision of rural life and has remained hidden from public view for over 40 years before reappearing on the market with an estimated value between 500,000 and 700,000 euros ($540,000-$760,000).
The painting will be showcased as a preview at Artcurial during Art Basel Paris week, offering art enthusiasts their first glimpse of this long-forgotten treasure. Measuring over 80 centimeters in width, "Danse bretonne" unfolds like a horizontal frieze, presenting a captivating rural theater that reads from left to right in two distinct acts. On one side, a joyful farandole of villagers dance hand in hand, while on the other, a more peaceful scene depicts a peasant woman walking with her animals - a pig and a flock of geese. At the center, two musicians sit with their backs turned, marking the transition between these contrasting scenes.
The panel showcases Gauguin's signature bold color blocks and vibrant yellow horizon, demonstrating the full brilliance of his distinctive palette. "This small scene full of spirit and rhythm takes us back to the time when Paul Gauguin was in Brittany," notes Bruno Jaubert, director of Artcurial's Impressionist & Modern Art department. In the late 1880s, weary of Parisian tumult, Gauguin sought refuge in Pont-Aven, a Breton village already favored by numerous artists.
During his stay in Brittany, Gauguin gradually liberated himself from Impressionist conventions, surrounded by a circle of painter friends as he developed the foundations of Synthetism - a new pictorial language bridging Impressionism and Cloisonnism. This artistic evolution is exemplified in his iconic work "The Vision After the Sermon" (1888). "Danse bretonne" fully embodies this artistic transformation and bears witness to Gauguin's deep attachment to Breton landscape and folklore.
The painting has a fascinating provenance as part of decorative elements created by Gauguin and his companions Charles Filiger and Meyer de Haan for Marie Henry's inn at Le Pouldu, where it originally adorned the mantelpiece lintel. Following its creation, "Danse bretonne" was exhibited consecutively in Paris at Barbazange in 1919, then in New York at Zayas the following year, before entering private collections where it remained for more than four decades. Much of the rest of the Marie Henry collection found its way into numerous cultural institutions, including Gauguin's "The Goose" (1889), which joined the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Quimper.
The story takes an intriguing turn nearly a century after its creation when two art historians contested its attribution to Gauguin. In 1983, the panel was exhibited again in New York, this time at Wildenstein, attributed to Paul Sérusier (1864-1927). This misattribution was subsequently repeated in several publications before being corrected through careful scholarly research.
It wasn't until 2020, following meticulous technical analysis and historical research, that the Paul Gauguin Committee of the Wildenstein Plattner Institute definitively confirmed the authenticity of the panel. This authentication represents a crucial validation for what many consider a significant example of Gauguin's Breton period work.
Scheduled for auction on December 9, the work is currently estimated between 500,000 and 700,000 euros. This presents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a significant and newly rediscovered work by Gauguin, one that fully represents the creative ferment of his Breton period - a pivotal moment in his career that served as a prelude to his later Tahitian and Marquesan years. The painting stands as a testament to Gauguin's deep connection to a specific territory and culture, capturing the essence of Brittany through his revolutionary artistic vision.
