Charles Kvapil (1884-1958) The Bather

Charles Kvapil (1884-1958) “The Bather,” a monumental oil on canvas signed lower right “Kvapil 1936.”

Charles Kvapil, born in Czechoslovakia and naturalized Belgian, was a painter of the School of Paris.
Trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, he began exhibiting in 1908. He quickly settled in Paris, first on Rue d’Alésia, then in Montmartre, at the Hameau des Artistes, between Rue Lepic and Rue Junot, where he would spend his entire life. His early years in Paris were difficult: he had to work to earn a living and painted in the evenings upon his return.
At the Salon des Indépendants in 1920, Kvapil revealed himself to the Parisian public as “…a bohemian painter for whom Montparnasse was the setting for his works and a model for life.” In 1923, his works were exhibited by Marcel Bernheim, then by Dalpeyrat, in Limoges, where he mainly presented landscapes. He then participated in the Salon d’Automne; at the 1941 Salon, he presented Les Phlox, and in 1944, À la fenêtre. In 1951, at the same Salon, he exhibited Plaisir d’été and Le Goûter.
Charles Kvapil was influenced by Fauvism and a very moderate Cubism; Paul Cézanne and, to some extent, Henri Matisse (as a colorist) also influenced his style. His art resembles the matte painting of Frans Hals, Rembrandt, and Chardin. Charles Kvapil’s paintings are original and modern; his nudes and bouquets of flowers are strong and powerful. His palette is rich in cobalt blue and warm colors. His technique is thoughtful and powerful. The renowned critic Béran, in a study dedicated to him, praises the richness of his subjects and all that his art owes to the joy of living.
During his lifetime, he exhibited in Paris, Munich, Brussels, Geneva, Italy, Stockholm, London, and New York. Today, his works are held in numerous public and private collections, including the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris and the museums of Le Havre, Libourne, Rouen, Saint-Étienne, Amsterdam, and Tunis.

This magnificent painting reveals the full power of Kvapil as a painter of nudes: a young woman seated on a rock, on a bright red towel adorned with white flowers, drying herself after a bath; behind her, a seascape with sailboats dotted on the horizon. The beautiful young woman has tanned skin, her fresh face illuminated by a shy smile that stretches her red lips.
This painting is striking, both visually and decoratively; Its considerable dimensions suggest that it was created for a prominent client, especially since most of Kvapil’s works are in the standard 50 x 60 cm format. Furthermore, the frame bears the inscription “This painting was restored by Kvapil himself in 1945.”

The painting is in excellent condition. It still has its original frame, bearing the label of the Parisian framer from whom Kvapil purchased it, made of carved and gilded wood. Accompanied by its Fine Arts export certificate, it is ready to hang.

Dimensions
Frame: 120 x 100 cm
Canvas: 83 x 73 cm