Rating and value of paintings by André Lagrange

If you own a work by or after the artist André Lagrange, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of the artist André Lagrange  

André Lagrange was a French Impressionist painter who followed in the footsteps of Fernand Cormon. Devoting himself to painting and depicting military scenes.

The price at which these are auctioned ranges from €40 to €11,900, a consequent delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Lagrange's works.

The oil on canvas Pique-nique d'été,dating from 1920, sold for €11,900, whereas it was estimated at between €9,000 and €13,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Artist's style and technique

André Lagrange's style, though rooted in the figurative tradition, is distinguished by an impressive mastery of the interplay of light and texture.

Trained in classical techniques, he quickly developed a personal approach in which the representation of reality is tinged with a discreet lyricism. Lagrange favors simple scenes, often drawn from everyday life or nature, which he interprets with great sensitivity.

His works are marked by a sober palette, dominated by earthy tones and soft nuances, reminiscent of certain artists such as Jean-Baptiste Corot or Eugène Boudin.

However, far from being content with a simple reproduction of the visible world, Lagrange seeks to capture the essence of things, through a progressive purification of forms and a subtle treatment of matter.

The artist's fluid yet precise touch lends her paintings a peaceful, almost meditative atmosphere. In his compositions, silence becomes palpable, as if suspended in time, evoking a certain melancholy but also a profound serenity.

Lagrange is thus part of a pictorial tradition in which the landscape, far from being a mere setting, becomes the mirror of inner emotions, an invitation to contemplation.

André Lagrange shares a stylistic proximity with several artists who, like him, captured the essence of great historical events while relying on a realistic, detailed approach.

Among them, Jean-Louis Forain, whose scenes imbued with gravity and emotion reflect an acute sensitivity to the upheavals of his time, particularly in the context of wars and social change.

Lagrange can also be likened to Édouard Detaille, known for his remarkably precise military paintings, immortalizing decisive moments in national life with almost documentary depth.

Finally, the work of Albert Besnard, with his realistic yet delicate compositions, shares with Lagrange a particular attention to the play of light and solemn atmospheres, testifying to the same desire to make history palpable through painting.

This attention to detail, mingled with tangible emotion, places André Lagrange in a line of artists for whom art does not merely represent, but transcends time to offer viewers a deeper understanding of the great moments of their era.

The life of André Lagrange  

André Lagrange (1889-1958) was a Parisian painter whose work illustrates a deep attachment to the defining events of French history.

Born in Paris, Lagrange grew up in the heart of a city rich in artistic and historical inspiration, a backdrop that profoundly influenced his career.

Early on, he manifested a fascination for key moments in public and national life, which he would later transcribe with a unique sensitivity in his art.

Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Lagrange turned to realistic painting, concentrating on capturing historical scenes with meticulous precision.

He is distinguished by his ability to translate into paint not only visible facts, but also the collective emotions they arouse.

His technique, inherited from the classical masters, highlights careful composition, a rigorous sense of detail and a remarkable use of contrasting light.

One of his iconic works, depicting La remise de la Croix de la Libération à la ville de Paris en 1945, perfectly illustrates his style. This historic scene, vibrant and solemn, testifies to his talent for capturing the very essence of great ceremonies.

The euphoria and pride of a liberated capital can be felt here, where every element, from the fluttering flags to the official figures and the architecture of the Hôtel de Ville, helps to recreate the triumphant atmosphere of the era.

Lagrange succeeds, with exceptional precision, in immortalizing the collective emotion of the Liberation, transforming the scene into a poignant testament to national memory.

During his career, Lagrange also endeavored to depict other significant moments in French history, alternating between battle scenes, official ceremonies, and portraits of illustrious figures.

His work, imbued with an almost photographic realism, stands out for the way he knows how to make the invisible visible, capturing the subtleties of collective emotion.

In his lifetime, his paintings were widely exhibited and recognized, testifying to his importance in the artistic panorama of his time.  

Today, André Lagrange remains a key figure for those interested in historical painting, and his work continues to resonate as a committed work, dedicated to national memory and the great moments of French history.

Focus on a historical scene by Lagrange

This work by André Lagrange, entitled La ville de Paris reçoit la croix de la Libération, 2 avril 1945, is a vibrant and solemn depiction of a key moment in French history.

The scene captures the emotion of a public ceremony that symbolizes recognition of the efforts and sacrifices of the city of Paris during the Second World War.

The composition is dominated by the Hôtel de Ville de Paris, beautifully decorated with brightly colored flags and banners, evoking an atmosphere of celebration and patriotism.

The building's imposing architectural lines, meticulously reproduced, testify to Lagrange's eye for detail and add depth to the scene.

The color palette is vibrant: the red, white and blue of the flags contrast with the gray stone of the building, reinforcing the solemn character of the event.

Lagrange excels in the art of making popular enthusiasm and fervor palpable. In the foreground, a dense crowd presses in, made up of soldiers, dignitaries and citizens, all facing the main stage.

The figures, though small in relation to the grandeur of the architecture, are imbued with life and energy, as evidenced by the expressive gestures and postures.  

The heart of the work lies in the central podium, where the Liberation Cross is awarded. This moment of recognition, placed at the center of the composition, captures the viewer's immediate attention.

The cross itself, framed by patriotic and religious symbols, is painted with a finesse that reflects all the importance of this decoration.

Lagrange stages this handover theatrically, paying homage to the heroism and courage of Paris during the Occupation.

The blue sky dotted with a few light clouds lends an almost unreal atmosphere to the whole, a kind of calm after the storm. In the background, the imposing architecture blends into the horizon, evoking a capital both glorious and resilient.

André Lagrange succeeds here in brilliantly marrying history and emotion, illustrating a major event while celebrating national unity.

Through its scope and rich narrative, the work embodies the sense of collective pride that animated France at the end of the war, and recalls the symbolic weight of the city of Paris in the country's liberation.

André Lagrange's imprint on his era

André Lagrange marked his era with a body of work deeply rooted in France's great historical events, offering his contemporaries vivid and moving depictions of key moments in the 20th century.

Through his canvases, he captured the spirit of a nation in the throes of change, shaped by two world wars, the Liberation, and the social movements that redefined its identity.

His paintings, often grandiose and imbued with solemnity, reflect not only his talent for accurately transcribing historical detail, but also his ability to capture the collective emotion that prevailed at these pivotal moments.

Lagrange was not only a history painter, he was a witness to his time, and his works remain as visual archives, a palpable memory of the events that forged modern France.

His artistic contribution helped perpetuate the memory of these decisive moments, constantly reminding his contemporaries, and us, of the importance of collective memory in the construction of a national identity.

With his realistic and profoundly human approach, he not only influenced the artistic circles of his time, but also offered his fellow citizens a new way of seeing and understanding their country's history.

Recognizing the artist's signature

André Lagrange signs at the bottom of his canvases with his name in all lower-case letters. In some works, he also inscribes the date.

How to find out the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by André Lagrange, request a free valuation without further delay via our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, as well as ad hoc information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.