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14 2 Idealised Nudity Félix Vallotton's fame around 1910 was due primarily to his nudes, which were received ambivalently by art crit- ics but were very popular with collectors. His idealised female figures are characterised by stylised, sometimes distorted forms and facial expressions. This abstraction, the exaggerated proportions and the schematised con- tours give the figures a certain artificiality. Vallotton con- centrates on composition, colours and the play of light and shadow. The aloofness and severity of the women depicted creates a sense of tension and unease. Félix Vallotton (1865–1925). Petite baigneuse assise sur le sable. 1911. Oil on canvas. 54 × 65 cm. Estimate: CHF 100 000/150 000 1 Paysage composé Félix Vallotton’s painting ‘Plage au matin, Houlgate’ shows the well-known ‘Vaches Noires’ cliffs on the Nor- mandy coast. The work is part of Vallotton’s series of ‘paysages composés’, which from 1909 occupied a cen- tral place in his work. During this phase, Vallotton's art broke away from naturalistic representation. In his stu- dio, he painted landscapes with clear forms and closed contours from sketches and memories created on-site. The effect this has on the paintings is quite graphic, and instills a mysterious, timeless mood. Félix Vallotton (1865–1925). Plage au matin, Houlgate. 1913. Oil on canvas. 73 × 100 cm. Estimate: CHF 300 000/500 000 3 Vallotton in Perugia In September 1913, Félix Vallotton and his wife Gabrielle spent a few weeks in the Italian town of Perugia. During this stay, he created a total of eight paintings, including the present work with a view of the church of Santa Ma- ria Nuova. During this time, Vallotton drew a great deal of inspiration from the Italian landscape, which offered him a new palette of colours and a variety of lighting ef- fects. The painting ‘Santa Maria Nuova, Pérouse’ is not only a tribute to the landscape, but also an example of Vallotton’s artistic development, in which he imbues re- ality with his subjective perception. Félix Vallotton (1865–1925). Santa Maria Nuova, Pérouse. 1913. Oil on canvas. 65 × 46 cm. Estimate: CHF 60 000/90 000 1 2 3