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French School MastersFrench school Landscape watermill Signed, oil on canvas with frame1939
1939
$598.90
$2,994.5280% Off
£447.99
£2,239.9480% Off
€500
€2,50080% Off
CA$825.26
CA$4,126.3080% Off
A$907.16
A$4,535.8180% Off
CHF 476.26
CHF 2,381.2880% Off
MX$10,786.81
MX$53,934.0680% Off
NOK 6,116.21
NOK 30,581.0480% Off
SEK 5,571.20
SEK 27,856.0280% Off
DKK 3,810.52
DKK 19,052.5980% Off
About the Item
➡️ Landscape with cows at dusk⬅️
➡️Vivid Landscape⬅️
⏩It is signed R Hesse⏪
René Jean Hesse (1910-2000)
René Hesse was a French painter whose art captured the essence of rural Lorraine with remarkable simplicity, authenticity, and poetic charm. Deeply rooted in his native region, Hesse developed a distinctive style that reflected both his personal humility and his deep connection to the landscapes and villages of northeastern France.
Hesse's career was shaped not only by his artistic talent but also by his long-standing work as a decorator for cafés and brasseries, where he created atmospheric scenes that echoed the identity and memory of the places he portrayed. Before becoming fully dedicated to painting, he served in municipal roles and had a background in music, but it was through his decorative work that he gained wider recognition. His murals and painted panels—often depicting pastoral scenes, mills, and village life—brought warmth and character to the walls of local establishments.
He was particularly active in Nancy, where he participated in exhibitions such as those held at the Taverne du Tertre Vert and local cafés, part of a broader tradition of "art at the corner café." These exhibitions fostered a rich exchange of ideas among artists and patrons, where Hesse stood out for his nostalgic, tender depictions of local heritage.
René Hesse’s approach was one of naturalism and sincerity. He consciously distanced himself from abstract art and the commercial pressures of the gallery circuit. Instead, he chose to remain close to his roots, often painting en plein air or directly in his workshop. His style was figurative, evocative, and timeless, emphasizing tranquility and poetic realism over flamboyance.
Working often with encaustic painting techniques, he created works that emanated both warmth and durability. Roosters, crumbling barns, snowy village lanes, and silhouettes of ancient churches filled his canvases. His paintings, many of which remain in private homes, rural inns, and local cafés, stand as a visual memory of a vanishing world.
René Hesse never sought the spotlight. He preferred being a painter of memory and of life, choosing authenticity over fame. As one critic beautifully put it, he was “an artist who refused to take himself too seriously, but who managed, in his own way, to paint life into every canvas.”
⭐Medium:⭐ Oil on canvas
⭐Technique: ⭐Impasto painting with expressive brushwork. High textured painting
⭐Size: 50x75/ 19.7x29.5 inch
with frame: 63x88cm / 24.8x 34.6 inch
Thickness: 5cm
⭐Date: 1939⭐
⭐Condition : ⭐ Very good condition. NO cracks, high textured artwork . Frame with minor missing pieces (see picture). Ready to hang.
⭐Provenance:⭐ Private collection - France.
⭐Shipping:⭐ from France is fast 4-6 days with Fedex / DHL
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⭐Artistic Career⭐
René-Jean Hesse was an active participant in various art exhibitions. He showcased his work at the Salon de Nancy, where he was awarded a Gold Medal for his contributions. His art was also exhibited in Paris and internationally in cities such as Vienna, Karlsruhe, and Newcastle. Hesse was a member of the Société des Artistes Français, reflecting his recognition within the French art community
⭐Visual Description⭐
The painting depicts a pastoral riverside landscape featuring a stone watermill with a prominent waterwheel, set in a lush, forested environment. A small cascading waterfall flows across the center, bordered by moss-covered stone walls in the foreground. The water appears to be part of a river or canal that powers the mill.
The right side is dominated by the millhouse with a tiled red roof, nestled among trees in full foliage, while the left side shows larger tree trunks and branches extending overhead. The viewer is drawn into the landscape through layers of detail — stone, water, foliage, and distant hills fading softly into a misty background.
⭐Artistic Technique
Style⭐
➡️Brushwork: The brushstrokes are short, textured, and somewhat pointillistic, resembling Post-Impressionist influences. It suggests the artist had a painterly touch — interested in light, atmosphere, and surface movement rather than photorealism.
➡️Color Palette: Earthy and natural tones dominate — greens, browns, ochres, and blues — with strategic use of contrasting warm and cool hues. The warm red roof and yellow reflections offer vibrancy against the lush, cool greens of the foliage and water.
➡️Composition: The composition is well-balanced, leading the viewer's eye diagonally from the left foreground wall across the waterfall to the mill, then back through the trees into the misty hills.
➡️Light
Atmosphere: There is a soft diffused light suggesting morning or early afternoon, with gentle reflections on the water, adding a tranquil, timeless quality.
⭐Interpretation⭐
➡️Themes: The painting evokes themes of rural harmony, man and nature, and tranquility through tradition. The watermill — a symbol of rustic industry and sustainability — becomes a centerpiece of calm human presence in a lush environment.
➡️Historical Context: Created during World War II, this work may be read as a nostalgic or idealized refuge — a serene escape from the chaos of wartime Europe. Hesse, if indeed René-Jean Hesse, was known for capturing Lorraine's countryside, and this may depict a site in northeastern France, where he was based.
➡️Symbolism: The trees arching over the mill and water imply protection or shelter, while the moving water and turning wheel hint at continuity, flow, and life amidst stillness.
- Creator:French School Masters (French)
- Creation Year:1939
- Dimensions:Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)Width: 29.53 in (75 cm)Depth: 1.58 in (4 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Zofingen, CH
- Reference Number:Seller: Hesse1stDibs: LU2203217363082
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