Artwork
Deux jeunes Suissesses
Deux jeunes Suissesses is an oil painting by Jules Pascin. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Musée d'art moderne de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Jules Pascin’s 1925 oil painting, titled *Deux jeunes Suissesses*, depicts two young Swiss women seated side by side in a modest interior. Both figures are nude, rendered with a gentle, almost lyrical touch that emphasizes a calm, intimate atmosphere. The composition is anchored by a muted backdrop of greenish‑brown tones, which recedes softly behind the figures.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a quiet moment between the two women, one with short dark hair looking downward, the other with short brown hair meeting the viewer’s gaze. Their relaxed postures and lack of overt narrative suggest an exploration of naturalistic intimacy rather than a staged tableau, inviting contemplation of the private, unguarded self.
Technique & Style
Pascin employs delicate brushwork and a restrained palette, allowing subtle gradations of tone to model the bodies. While the overall effect is soft and dreamlike, the handling of light and shadow hints at chiaroscuro, giving the figures a modest sense of volume without dramatic contrast. The muted colors reinforce the painting’s serene mood.
History & Provenance
Created in the final year of Pascin’s life, *Deux jeunes Suissesses* entered the collection of the Musée d’art Moderne de Paris, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing early‑20th‑century European modernism and the artist’s role within that movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Julius Mordecai Pincas (March 31, 1885 – June 2, 1930), known as Pascin (French: , erroneously or ), Jules Pascin, also known as the "Prince of Montparnasse", was a Bulgarian artist of the School of Paris, known for his paintings and…
