GIRIN David (Lyon, 1848 – id., 1917), Evening In The Dombes (1915)

Oil on cardboard. 38 x 30.5 cm. Signed lower right. Titled and dated on the reverse.

David-Eugène Girin entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon in 1864 and immediately joined the class of Joseph Guichard. He exhibited genre scenes at the Salon and also painted still lifes, notably flowers. In 1887, with the canvas Le Matin, a decisive turning point occurred: the artist, until then known for his genre paintings, devoted himself exclusively to landscapes and open-air scenes. His financial security allowed him to travel throughout France and provided him with a wide variety of subjects to explore. Girin also renewed both his palette and his style, combining strong, sober draftsmanship with a palette of light earth tones and tinted whites. His works are characterized by subtle plays of light, shimmering colors, and reflections.