Claire Demartinécourt Pastel Floral Still Life 1950s Art

This stunning original pastel painting by celebrated French artist Claire Demartinécourt (1896-1981) captures a vibrant floral still life in a rustic terracotta vase. Created during the 1950s, this authentic French artwork showcases the artist's masterful pastel technique and her signature approach to color composition that made her a prominent Salon des Indépendants exhibitor.

A luminous bouquet of orange, mauve, and white flowers creates a harmonious celebration of mid-century French artistic style. Demartinécourt's expert pastel application produces rich, velvety textures with subtle color transitions that bring exceptional depth to this vintage floral painting. The warm orange blooms contrast beautifully against cool lavender and white flowers, anchored by lush green foliage. The atmospheric background in soft blues and greens creates spatial depth while maintaining focus on the vibrant bouquet.
Her confident handling of light and shadow—from golden yellow flower centers to delicate vase shadows—demonstrates the technical excellence that established her reputation at Paris's prestigious Salon des Indépendants. This composition exemplifies classical French still life traditions while embodying the fresh, modern aesthetic of post-war European art.

Claire Demartinécourt-Modret was a distinguished French painter renowned for her floral still lifes and landscape paintings. Born in Melun, France, she trained at the National School of Fine Arts in Dijon, developing the refined technique that would define her career.

From 1929 onwards, Demartinécourt regularly exhibited at the prestigious Salon des Indépendants in Paris, establishing herself among the leading independent French artists of the 20th century. Her signed works ("Demartinécourt" or "Demartinécourt-Modret") are highly collectible, prized for their warmth, technical mastery, and distinctive approach to traditional French subjects. She continued creating acclaimed artwork until her death in 1981 in Is-sur-Tille, France.

This vintage French pastel is elegantly presented in a Montparnasse-style frame featuring intricately hand-carved wood with characteristic weathered patina. 

This 1950s floral painting represents an important period in French art history. While abstract expressionism dominated international markets, artists like Demartinécourt preserved and revitalized France's celebrated still life tradition, creating works that bridge pre-war academic excellence with contemporary mid-century aesthetics.

Perfect for collectors of French mid-century art, Salon des Indépendants artists, vintage pastel paintings, floral still life artwork, post-war European art, or investors seeking authenticated French master works with established provenance and exhibition history.

Artist: Claire Demartinecourt (1896-1981) 
Unsigned. 
Medium: Pastel on paper. 
Condition: Very good condition. 
Dimensions: 32 x 26 cm /11 ½ x 10 ½ in. 
Frame: 42.5 x 37.5 cm. / 16 ¾ x 14 ¾ in. Very good condition.
Origin: France