French school of travelling painters. - Lot 168

French school of travelling painters. Party scene in Yunnan. Unsigned oil on canvas. Dimensions: 70x130.5 cm. Probably a project for one of the colonial exhibitions, this procession scene is strongly reminiscent of the work of Louis Rollet (1895-1988), who is best known for having exhibited a series of paintings, including preparatory studies, on these occasions. The costumes and attitudes of the figures suggest that the scene depicted was inspired by the religious festivals of Yunnan, a favorite theme for traveling painters from the 1900s onwards. This region bordering Vietnam was known as a place of diverse influences, oscillating between Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian culture. In this composition, we find many elements reminiscent of Louis Rollet's colorful touch and distinctive style, as in one of his major works, "La porte de Yunnan Fu".