Besse: Utrillo - Like Cityscape With Figures, A Paris Suburb

Having been brought up in the centre of France, Raymond Besse arrived in Paris in 1916, aged just 17. He participated for the first time in the Salon des Indpendants in 1923, then participated in many other salons, including the Salon d'Automne. His favourite subjects were the grittier suburbs of Paris, and his paintings bear witness to life in working-class neighbourhoods during the first half of the century. In this respect, he very much resembled Utrillo, whose key interest was similar. Here is is quite an early work by the artist, dating from circa 1930. It depicts the a southern suburb, Athis-Mons. The oil on canvas is signed at the lower left and situated by the artist on the verso. Measuring 46 x 55 cm, the overall framed size is 61 x 70cm.