Carole Pinto Fine Arts
Paul Fernand Corpus
French Artist (1893-1980)
'Luna Park, Menilmontant, Paris'
Oil on Board dated 1931
18 x 22 inches
$10,800
Corpus started to exhibit his work in 1921 at the prestigious Salon des Artistes Francais. He became a member of the Jury at the Salon d’Automne as of 1928, where he selected the best contemporary artists, and successfully exhibited his paintings at the Salon des Independents as well as the renown Salon des Tuileries. Corpus was asked to execute a series of decorative murals for administrative buildings in Paris, and his paintings were acquired by the Museum of the City and by provincial museums throughout France.
This nocturnal scene of a carousel brilliantly contrasts the deep blue of the sky with the stark vibrancy of the incandescent light. The whiteness of the light outlines the silhouettes of the bystanders, and the loose, painterly brushwork adds mystery and movement to the composition. Forms are defined by bright dabs of color, and one can hear the music and feel the excitement of the children looking forward to their ride on the carousel. The choice of a Luna Park as subject matter resonated with the Parisian public, who enjoyed their first taste of leisure time following the social reforms of the first half of the XXth century.