Rating and value of paintings by Paulin Bertrand

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Artist's rating and value

Paulin Bertrand produced a variety of works, including paintings, watercolors and prints. He mainly depicted countryside landscapes.

His naturalistic landscapes are particularly sought-after at auction, and can fetch several hundred million euros in bids.

As evidenced by his oil on canvas Promenade sous les pommiers en fleurs, adjudicated at €11,800, whereas it was estimated at between €8,000 and €12,000. 

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Paulin Bertrand

Paulin Bertrand, a pillar of landscape art, stands out for his ability to capture the soul of natural landscapes with a deep, luminous sensitivity.

An attentive and passionate observer of nature, he strives to render the serenity and authenticity of his subjects in his works, offering a poetic and sober vision of each scene.

His compositions often capture moments of calm, conducive to meditation, such as dusk or dawn, where colors and shadows respond with subtlety.

In his technique, Bertrand opts for earthy tones, from soft greens to warm browns, reflecting his attachment to the nuances of the earth. His palette is both restrained and nuanced, guided by a desire to remain faithful to the natural atmospheres he comes into contact with.

Each brushstroke is measured, creating scenes that breathe simplicity and closeness to nature. This economy of means lends his landscapes a particular depth and intensity, highlighting the essential without artifice.

Drawing, the foundation of his approach, is executed with delicate, precise lines, reinforcing the structure of his compositions. His charcoal or chalk sketches show his attention to detail and accuracy, ahead of his final creations.

Bertrand reached maturity in the 1890s, a time when he refined his style towards austere simplicity, forsaking all superfluous effects to give full rein to nature.

In the manner of Corot, Bertrand anchors his works in a quest for truth, but infuses them with an almost spiritual dimension, a search for harmony that transcends the landscape itself.

His scenes, both faithful and timeless, inspire a generation of landscape artists to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature in all its truth.

The life of Paulin Bertrand

Paulin Bertrand was born in 1852 into a modest farming family in the Saône-et-Loire village of Arbigny. From an early age, he was captivated by the rural landscapes of his region, which would later become the inexhaustible source of his inspiration.

As a child, he developed a passion for drawing, encouraged by his father, who, although of modest origins, nurtured an admiration for the arts and culture.

About 1870, Bertrand left for Lyon to train in a local art studio, guided by a master who saw in him a promising talent. Thanks to a scholarship, he then moved to Paris to perfect his skills, joining a circle of artists close to the École de Barbizon.

In the capital, Bertrand nevertheless faced the challenges of life as an artist, struggling at first to make his mark and find his style. Inspired by masters such as Corot and Millet, he began to sketch the outlines of a body of work in which nature and sincerity take precedence.

In 1883, Bertrand discovered the enchanting landscapes of the Île-de-France region and decided to settle there. It was in this bucolic setting that he found his true artistic voice, painting scenes of the countryside with great sobriety and restrained sensitivity.

Through his canvases, Bertrand shows a deep respect for nature and the people who live in it, without artifice or idealization.

Contrary to some of his contemporaries who magnify landscapes in romantic tones, Bertrand prefers a more realistic approach, seeking balance between light and details of the land.

This simple yet penetrating style earned him a lukewarm reception, although his works attracted the attention of some influential critics of the time.

Bertrand's last years were marked by the recognition, albeit discreet, of his talent. His authentic vision of nature and his dedication to depicting it with honesty set him apart in the circle of landscape painters.

Although unattracted by honors, he received important commissions and came to be respected among his peers. Bertrand continued to paint until the end of his life in 1929, leaving a faithful and poetic body of work that would influence future generations of landscape artists.

Musée Jean Aicard - Paulin Bertrand

Focus on Paysage au crépuscule by Paulin Bertrand

Paysage au crépuscule by Paulin Bertrand unfolds an enveloping atmosphere where twilight bathes the scene in soothing light. In this painting, Bertrand relies on meticulous, rigorous drawing, which structures the entire composition.

He chooses fine lines and precise contours, worked in chalk and charcoal, to evoke the texture of the trees and the depth of the terrain, reinforcing the density of the natural elements.

This work testifies to Bertrand's artistic maturity, as he consolidated his intimate, contemplative approach in the 1880s.

Dusk, the moment of passage between day and night, is rendered here with a palette of warm, earthy tones, dominated by dark greens, browns and ochres, which capture the quietude of the landscape.

Bertrand plays with dawning shadows and luminous reflections, creating a subtle contrast that lends the work an almost mystical dimension.

The choice to depict a landscape without human figures, immersed in soft light, underlines the artist's quest for simplicity and authenticity. Bertrand does not seek to embellish nature, but rather to render it accurately, paying homage to its raw beauty.

The low horizon and deep sky invite silent contemplation, suggesting a certain humility in the face of nature's immensity.

As in all his work, Bertrand here explores the relationship between nature and light, offering a scene of almost spiritual purity.

Paysage au crépuscule goes beyond simple realistic representation to achieve a universal scope, translating a timeless vision of nature that will permeate generations of landscape artists to come.

L'empreinte de Paulin Bertrand sur son époque

In the 1890s, Paulin Bertrand reached an artistic maturity marked by a heightened sensitivity to nature. His almost meditative works focus on uncluttered landscapes bathed in soft, natural light.

In contrast to the flamboyant styles of the time, Bertrand favors simplicity and sincerity in his depiction of nature. Inspired by the familiar landscapes of his youth, he depicts scenes at dusk or dawn, lending them a contemplative aura. 

His paintings, such as Paysage au crépuscule and Clairière au matin, carry a touch of melancholy and a search for authenticity. Far from idealizing nature, Bertrand expresses its calm, emphasizing its raw, serene beauty.

In this mature period, he explores the harmony between light and shadow, using a palette of earthy tones that evokes the depth and simplicity of the natural world. 

Bertrand captures the intimate relationship between man and landscape, even without human figures. His compositions emphasize the balance between earth and sky, letting each element interact in silent harmony. The subtle light that bathes his works contributes to this quest for authenticity and latent spirituality.

Bertrand's imprint is not limited to his technique; his approach would influence subsequent generations of landscape artists. Like Corot, he strives for a faithful representation of reality, but infuses this nature with a timeless dimension.

His works, with their apparent simplicity, stand out as a poetic tribute to the discreet beauty of landscapes, making him an essential figure in the field of landscape painting.

His signature

Not all of Paulin Bertrand's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of his signature:

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