Lucien Mathelin, Interior Scene, Gouache on Paper, Mid-20th Century

This mid-century gouache on paper by French painter Lucien Mathelin (1905-1981) depicts an interior scene featuring a rush-seated country chair beside a green door and an ornate black stove. The artwork showcases a captivating array of details rendered in contrasting lines, from the lion paw feet and double-handled urn of the stove to the carved elements of the chair and the shape of the terracotta tiles. Utilizing gouache, Mathelin’s vibrant palette of green, yellow, black, and ochres creates flat areas of color that evoke illustration. He presents this familiar interior scene with a surrealist twist, flattening perspective and depicting furniture as the characters of the space. This large work is signed at the front and mounted in a stained wood frame decorated with gold lines. Lucien Mathelin (1905-1981) was a painter known for his still life and interior scenes, often employing the trompe l’oeil technique with a surrealist inspiration. His work reinterpreted classic genres with a blend of poetic and humorous elements. A member of the Salon d'Automne, Salon des Indépendants, and Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Mathelin exhibited his work internationally and his work is part of the collections of the Musée de Montmartre and the Centre Pompidou.