Paul Elie Gernez

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original oil painting is by the French artist Paul Elie Gernez and dates from the 1920s. <br> The painting is presented and supplied in its original Montparnasse frame (which is shown in these photographs).<br> The painted surfaces, the canvas and the frame are entirely in their original untouched condition. No restoration, cleaning or conservation has been performed on the piece.<br> This antique painting is in very good decorative condition, commensurate with its age. It represents its age and era very well and is supplied ready to hang and display.<br> The painting is signed lower left.<br> <br> Élie Gernez’s works have been exhibited widely, particularly in France, both during his lifetime and posthumously. He frequently exhibited at Paris salons, notably the Salon des Artistes Français and Salon d’Automne — two of the most prestigious annual art exhibitions in France. He was also associated with regional exhibitions, especially in Normandy (Rouen, Honfleur, and surrounding areas), where his reputation was particularly strong.<br> There was a retrospective exhibition of his works in Paris in 1969, with a presentation text from his friend Robert Rey.<br> <br> Gernez worked relentlessly until 1942 when a serious illness forced him to rest. Around this time, he suffered a stroke. Interestingly, Gernez was one of three artists who were examined and studied by the famous French neurologist Théophile Alajouanine, who was looking at the influence of a cerebral stroke on artistic ability. In the case of Gernez, his stroke did not diminish his ability to produce art, but there was a change in his style, which seemed to become less poetic as if he had lost some of his spontaneity. (The painting which we present for sale, The Cabaret Dancer, was completed two decades before Gernez had his stroke.) Gernez went on to have a serious operation in 1946, and died two years later, on September 6, 1948. There is a plaque on the house where he died at 9 Rue Guy de la Brosse, Paris, which reads “Le Peintre Paul-Elie Gernez 1888-1948 est mort dans cette maison”.<br> <br> His legacy is that of a versatile and innovative artist who was not afraid to explore different styles and techniques. His ability to adapt and evolve his artistic vision allowed him to remain relevant in a rapidly changing art world, and his contributions continue to be appreciated by art enthusiasts and historians today. Museums in Normandy have preserved and shown his work, including the Musée Eugène Boudin in Honfleur. This museum is dedicated to regional artists and impressionist/post-impressionist painters connected to the Norman coast. His paintings occasionally appear in exhibitions focusing on early 20th-century French art or Norman school artists. His watercolours and figures in oils continue to be admired and are collected in private galleries specialising in French figurative and decorative art. Gernez’s artworks are also part of permanent collections in institutions such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Musée Eugène Boudin in Honfleur, ensuring ongoing public access to his art.<br> <br> © Big Sky Fine Art<br> <br> “Danseuse De Cabaret” by Paul Élie Gernez (1888–1948) is a captivating oil on canvas that captures the lively, theatrical spirit of early 20th-century Parisian cabaret. Gernez’s dancer is a vibrant vision, emerging from a flurry of broad, expressive brushstrokes in pastel blues, creams, and golds. Her face, meticulously detailed with rich makeup and a confident gaze, draws the eye instantly, framed by an elaborate, colourful feathered headdress. She wears elegant black gloves and a lavish costume, hinting at movement and drama, yet much of her figure dissolves into the swirling, textured background. The composition beautifully balances refinement and spontaneity, with thick impastos and delicate detailing creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Signed boldly in red at the lower left, this work exemplifies Gernez’s flair for capturing fleeting moments with energy and sophistication.<br> <br> The 1930s in France saw the continuation of modernist movements, and this style would have fit within the cabaret culture of Paris — a blend of sensuality, theatricality, and artistic freedom.<br> Artists such as Jean-Gabriel Domergue and Kees van Dongen depicted glamorous women and showgirls in a similarly stylized, expressive fashion.