Yvonne Mondin

About the Painting

This oil on canvas painting by French artist Yvonne Mondin (1898-1967), circa 1950, captures an intimate domestic interior scene characteristic of mid-20th century European genre painting. The composition features a cozy Mediterranean-style room with distinctive architectural elements including a striped awning, yellow stucco walls, and an arched alcove.

The painting depicts two figures in a lived-in space: a person reclining on a daybed reading in the background, and a woman in blue standing by an orange table laden with fresh produce and flowers. The vibrant color palette includes warm yellows, rich oranges, deep blues, and terracotta tones that create a harmonious domestic atmosphere. This celebration of everyday life and domestic tranquility reflects themes commonly explored by European artists during the post-war period.

Mondin's expressionistic brushwork and bold color choices reflect the Post-Impressionist influence prevalent in French art of the 1950s. The scene conveys a sense of peaceful domesticity and the simple pleasures of daily life, rendered with warmth and intimacy characteristic of her approach to genre painting.

About the Artist

Marie Yvonne Mondin (1898-1967) was a distinguished French painter and printmaker who became a prominent figure in the vibrant Parisian art scene of the early-to-mid 20th century. Born in 1898, she established herself as a versatile artist working across multiple mediums and artistic genres throughout her prolific career.

Based in the bohemian quarter of Montparnasse, the heart of Paris's artistic community, Mondin immersed herself in the city's dynamic cultural landscape. From 1924 to 1960, she was a regular exhibitor at two of France's most prestigious art venues: the Salon des Tuileries and the Salon des Indépendants. These exhibitions provided her with significant exposure and established her reputation within French artistic circles.

Mondin's artistic repertoire encompassed landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, each demonstrating her remarkable emotional intensity and broad stylistic range. A significant aspect of Mondin's artistic legacy includes her collaborative work with her husband, Swiss artist Kurt Oskar Manz. Together, they created lithographs and engravings that combined their unique artistic perspectives, enriching her artistic output and demonstrating her mastery of printmaking techniques alongside her painting practice.

Marie Yvonne Mondin's four-decade career, spanning from the 1920s through the 1960s, represents an important contribution to mid-20th century French art. Her works continue to be appreciated for their technical skill, emotional depth, and distinctive approach to capturing intimate domestic moments and broader artistic themes. She passed away in 1967, leaving behind a substantial body of work that reflects the evolution of European art through some of its most transformative decades.

Technical Details

Artist: Marie Yvonne Mondin (1898-1967)
Signed: Lower left corner
Date: c.1950
Medium: Oil on canvas
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions: 46 x 55 cm / 18 x 21¾ in
Frame: 57 x 66 cm / 22½ x 26 in, very good condition
Origin: France

An intimate example of French Post-Impressionist domestic genre painting from the 1950s by a Montparnasse artist.