Bidspirit auction | Georges Seurat (Paris, 1859 –

Georges Seurat (Paris, 1859 – Paris, 1891) Attributed - Courbevoie Bridge, left bank (c.1883-1885) - Conté crayon on Michallet paper with watermark. Dimensions: 23.5 x 31.2 cm. Atmospheric and extraordinarily sensitive to light, this drawing depicts a view of the Seine with the Courbevoie Bridge in the background, conceived from the left bank of the river. The composition incorporates some of the most characteristic elements of Georges Seurat's graphic language during the 1880s: trees with dark outlines in the foreground, small figures contemplating the river landscape, and a delicate spatial construction based on blurred and silent masses. The work is executed in black and gray Conté crayon, a fundamental technique in Seurat's drawing, used by the artist to create velvety surfaces and hazy effects with a greasy, waxy graphite. The atmospheric treatment, the simplification of forms, and the tonal vibrancy directly recall the celebrated preparatory studies of the Neo-Impressionist master, now held in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Morgan Library. The drawing appears to relate to the visual investigations Seurat undertook before executing his final oil paintings. The scene shares compositional similarities with the views of the Courbevoie bridge painted between 1883 and 1885, although in this case the perspective is from the opposite bank, introducing an unusual variation within his known repertoire. Several technical details are also significant: the double dark outline of the tree trunks, the very fine black lines that define certain shapes, the irregular edges of the torn paper, and the presence of a brown outline at the margins—characteristics observable in authentic drawings by the artist. On the reverse, there are also inscriptions in blue and red chalk attributed to Maximilien Luce, including “G. Seurat, ” an “L, ” and the file number “357,” elements comparable to those found on other documented works from the circle of Félix Fénéon. The work also has an interesting provenance linked to Seurat's inner circle and the Parisian Neo-Impressionist scene: the artist's studio; Émile Seurat; Félix Fénéon, Paris; later Maximilien Luce; private collection in Limoges and current owner. The piece may also be related to groups of drawings dispersed in the historic sale of the Félix Fénéon collection held at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris in 1947. Due to its technical and stylistic similarities with known drawings by Georges Seurat, as well as the historical references, inscriptions, and provenance preserved, the work can be considered attributable to the French artist. Lot in international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required.