Charles-Henri Contencin (1898-1898)
Signed, this oil on board by Charles-Henri Contencin (1898–1955) shows the Mont Blanc massif seen from Megève, France.
Contencin's inventive motif of sled tracks in the foreground comes into its own in this superb wintry view looking towards Mont Blanc. The path ploughed through the heavy snow draws the eye down and through to the darker, wooded valleys beyond, with the pictorial space then dominated by the Mont Blanc massif in the background. The simple, bold handling of the wide, undisturbed snow in the foreground is key to this composition's success.
Collectors of Contencin's work and of Megève/Mont Blanc winter views will find this an eleventh distinctive addition, showcasing his skill with snow-bound, foreground-led compositions.