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Pierre NeveuExpressionist Mask Study Abstract Face with Red Background Watercolor
$436.33
£320
€371.30
CA$600.73
A$657.42
CHF 347.39
MX$7,846.79
NOK 4,433.14
SEK 4,054.47
DKK 2,773.45
About the Item
Title: Expressionist Mask Study Abstract Face with Red Background Watercolor
Artist: Pierre Neveu (French b.1929)
Medium: Watercolour on card, unframed
Size (H x W): 8.75 x 5.5 inches
Condition: Good overall, with light handling marks, some paint absorption into textured paper, and natural irregularities consistent with the artist’s experimental studies
Provenance: From the artist’s studio sale in France; all works by this artist in our collection originate from the artist’s estate.
Description: This striking and unconventional watercolor and gouache study by Pierre Neveu showcases the artist’s more experimental side. Unlike his well-known landscape and architectural works, this piece explores the expressive potential of the human mask—depicting a stylised, almost theatrical face with exaggerated eyes, furrowed brows, and energetic linework. Painted on textured, corrugated paper, the piece carries a bold, raw quality that emphasises spontaneity, gesture, and emotional intensity.
The central mask-like face is built from loose but intentional strokes of rust red, deep blue-grey, and sepia ink lines, giving it a sculptural presence. Wild, sketch-like marks radiate from the head, suggesting hair, headdress, or motion. The vivid red background heightens the drama, with layered washes bleeding softly into one another, creating a sense of depth behind the figure. On the left, vertical strokes of crimson, ochre, and wine purple contribute to a rhythmic, almost tribal atmosphere.
Though the subject is ambiguous—part mask, part caricature, part abstract portrait—it strongly recalls European modernist explorations of primitive art influences, theatre masks, and psychological expression, seen in the works of Rouault, Klee, and early 20th-century Expressionists. Neveu’s interest in form, tension, and spontaneous mark-making is fully present here, making this an intriguing piece for collectors interested in the breadth of his practice.
The study likely formed part of Neveu’s exploratory period or classroom demonstrations from his long tenure as Professor of Drawing for the City of Paris, where experimentation with materials and expressive approaches was central to his teaching. The corrugated paper adds a unique textural dimension, absorbing pigment unpredictably and enhancing the piece’s sense of immediacy.
Ideal for collectors of abstract portraiture, Expressionist studies, mask imagery, and unique works on paper, this artwork stands out as a rare example of Neveu’s more avant-garde output.
Unframed and ready for bespoke presentation.
- Creator:Pierre Neveu (1929)
- Dimensions:Height: 8.75 in (22.23 cm)Width: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Cirencester, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU509317313912
Pierre Neveu
Pierre Neveu was born in Paris. He was a professor of Drawing. Some of his exhibits include Invite d'honneur, Salon de Margency (1998); Nolan-Rankin Galleries Houston, Texas (1997); Kulturklub des Europäischen Patentamt Munich (1987); Beernau Foret-Noir (1985); and Marie de Tour-sur-Marne, Champagne (1983).
About the Seller
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