Marcel Cosson (1878–1956) Harlequin and Columbine at the Venice Carnival

MOil on canvas circa 1900

Description:
This oil on canvas, signed lower left by Marcel Cosson, presents a captivating subject: a carnival ball scene in Venice, where Harlequin and Columbine, surrounded by dancing couples, create an atmosphere that is both festive and poetic. The artist fully deploys his talent to capture the lively and mysterious spirit of the Venetian Carnival.

Dimensions:
Unframed: Height 25.6 in (65 cm) – Width 21.3 in (54 cm)
Framed: Height 31.5 in (80 cm) – Width 26.8 in (68 cm)

Condition:
In excellent original condition on its original canvas, presented in a finely sculpted, lacquered, and gilded wood frame of exceptional aesthetic quality.

Biography:
Marcel Cosson (1878–1956) was a distinctive figure in the early 20th-century French art scene. Trained during a period marked by the aesthetic upheavals of Impressionism and Fauvism, he developed a personal style characterized by vibrant colors and spontaneous brushwork, which brought a dynamic energy to his depictions of contemporary society.

Specializing in genre scenes, Cosson drew inspiration from the lively spectacle of Parisian life—theaters, circuses, and Opera ballets—as well as the elegant salons he frequented. His work often focused on the female figure, capturing her grace and elegance with refined sensitivity while evoking the atmosphere of the places he visited. His compositions, both luminous and expressive, reflect a keen eye for movement and emotion, echoing the legacy of Degas but with a freer, more colorful touch.

His talent was recognized as early as 1901 when he received an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes Français, where he later became a member. After 1911, his works were regularly exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Galerie Nationale, the Salon des Tuileries, and the Aubry, Bareiro, and Jean de Ruaz galleries. These exhibitions solidified his place in the Parisian art world, where he mingled with the cultural elite of his time.

Though less renowned than some of his contemporaries, Marcel Cosson left behind a body of work that faithfully reflects the spirit of his era, blending tradition with modernity. His paintings, often animated by dance and carnival scenes—such as his depiction of Harlequin and Columbine at the Venice Carnival—reveal an artist deeply attuned to the play of light and human interaction. Today, his works are documented in the archives of the Centre de Documentation du Musée National d’Art Moderne (Centre Georges-Pompidou), where records and reproductions allow for an appreciation of the diversity of his art.

Marcel Cosson passed away in 1956, leaving a legacy that continues to enchant admirers of French art from the Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties, celebrated for its charm and vitality.