Impressionist and Modern Art

We wish to thank the Comité Anquetin at Brame & Lorenceau, Paris for kindly confirming the authenticity of the present Lot, which will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Provenance:

The Artist.

Acquired directly from the above.

Collection of Henri Cottereau, Paris.

Thence by descent.

Collection of Pierre Cottereau, Paris.

Sotheby's, London, sale of October 13, 1993, lot 160.

Acquired directly from the above sale by the present owner.

Lot Note:

Aristide Bruant (1851-1925) was one of the most notable figures of Belle Époque Paris: a singer, performer, and sharp-witted personality closely associated with the cabarets of Montmartre. Known for his black cape, wide-brimmed hat, and red scarf, he became an icon of Parisian nightlife, immortalized above all in the striking posters by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, which fixed his image in posterity.

Bruant embodied the lively and theatrical spirit of the city, while Louis Anquetin, deeply engaged with modern Paris, devoted much of his work to capturing its atmosphere, people, and popular places. In this sense, portraying Bruant was a natural choice: a meeting point between artist and subject within the shared culture of the capital.

In this portrait, Anquetin moves away from the graphic clarity of Lautrec’s posters toward a more intimate and expressive approach. The tight framing focuses on the sitter’s face. Built with bold, shifting colors and lively pastel strokes, the features appear direct and animated. The quick handling of the medium, combined with Bruant’s subtle, inviting grim, creates a sense of immediacy and complicity. It captures not just a likeness, but the charm and charisma of a quintessential Parisian character altogether.