"Les Perruches" Perruches/Parrots, was painted in 1925 by Jean Dupas (1882-1964)
Some sources consider this a mural--whether "really" a mural or not that is what I will consider it to be here. It was created expressly to decorate a room in the Hotel/Pavilion d'u Collectionneur at the Paris Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts(what could be considered a world's fair of sorts) in Paris France in 1925. The famous Art Deco furniture designer Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann commissioned Dupas to design and execute a painting to decorate one of the rooms in the pavilion, and was originally located above a fireplace.
Dupas's work is certainly Deco in nature, however I feel that his work also has a Mannerist influence.I additionally feel that his work has a bit of a Surrealist, or perhaps Magic Realist feel to it. I think that his backgrounds/landscapes, and other elements in which his figures interact with at the very least have a lush dream-like quality to them. There is also a certain understated glamour to his images which is intriguing. These sort of elongated/Mannerist figures are something which you can see (to a greater or lesser degree) in some of the work of some other celebrated artists of the era, one of the best known being J.C. Leyendecker--is something that was not uncommon during this time, with some painting slightly "exaggerated" figures,and others painting with a fully exaggerated look.
Dupas also created other work in a more "realistic" vein. He worked quite often through his career as a muralist. This one is a favorite of mine--I supposed partially due to the organic lines throughout the piece--and a sculptural sense to the figures--and overall dream-like feel of the piece. I am also drawn to the bold use of color, specifically the yellow and green parrots set against the red leaves of the tree--amazingly vibrant and alive!
The doves(?) that are captured in mid-flight are also intriguing.For one thing they are obviously not parrots in a mural that is entitled "parrots". Secondly, Their positioning is really fascinating, in that they seem to be rising or descending from the reclining woman's head--like a thought descending or being sent...or perhaps both. Either way the effect is dream-like and spiritual.
