Sale of workshop Odette Dumaret, pupil of Suzanne Valadon
Online sale on April 23
“To Odette Dumaret; To protect her in her career as a painter, of her gifted nature, supporting her in her beautiful understanding of art, which will later give reason to the confidence I put in her, so pure, so strong-willed. With all my joy and affection.”
Suzanne Valadon
Paris, December 1935
This autograph letter from Suzanne Valadon to Odette Dumaret reveals the deep relationship and mutual esteem between the teacher and her latest pupil. It appears on an album of eighteen original Suzanne Valadon plates, the first lot in our sale. When they met in 1935, Suzanne Valadon told her: “You have a gift, I’ll try to destroy it, then we’ll see if there is anything left”. Odette Dumaret began a tough apprenticeship at Valadon’s side, which ended in 1938 with the artist’s death. Marked by his influence, she retained remarkable drawing skills and a mastery of forms observed in nature.
However, Odette Dumaret proved herself capable of freeing herself from this influence. She developed an art of intense, bold colors supported by solid, ample, nervous forms, an art of fiery contrasts and warm lyricism, reminiscent of some of the influences of the twentieth-century avant-garde, notably Cézanne, the Nabis and Cubism.
During her lifetime, Odette Dumaret’s artistic career was punctuated by numerous exhibitions. As early as 1936 and again in 1937, she presented her work at the Galerie Krohg in Paris, alongside her friend and mentor Suzanne Valadon. The two women’s works responded to and complemented each other, offering an emancipated vision of the modern woman. Her recognition also extended to renowned galleries, such as Roux-Hentschel, where she exhibited in 1946, Bosc-Pétridès in 1950 and Bernheim-Jeune in 1968. She is also present at international artistic gatherings, with exhibitions in Italy, Brazil, England and the United States. She also participated in the annual Salon d’Automne, of which she became a member, and in the Salon de Bois-le-Roi, her home town.
Now, thirty-five years after his death, we invite you to rediscover his work through our studio sale, to be held on April 23, 2025. The sale will highlight each stage of his rich pictorial career. We hope it will help bring Odette Dumaret back into the limelight and give her the recognition she deserves.
“… and from the grumpy Degas came Suzanne Valadon; and from the rebellious Suzanne Valadon came Odette Dumaret.”
Waldemar George
Odette Dumaret or Birth of a painter,
Article written for the joint exhibition Odette Dumaret and Hélène Guastalla, Galerie Roux-Hentschel, Paris, 1946.
ODETTE DUMARET (1913-1991)
NU AU SERPENT, 1936
Oil on canvas; signed upper right; dated on the stretcher
31 7/8 x 21 1/4 in.
€400-600
ODETTE DUMARET (1913-1991)
AUTPORTRAIT, vers 1935-37
Oil on canvas; signed upper right
8 5/8 x 7 1/8 in.
€300-500
ODETTE DUMARET (1913-1991)
LA ROBE DE CHAMBRE, vers 1930-40
Oil on canvas; signed lower right
18 1/8 x 15 in.
€300-500
ODETTE DUMARET (1913-1991)
LA THÉIÈRE, 1960
Oil on canvas; signed lower center;
signed again, dated and titled on the stretcher
15 x 18 1/8 in.
€200-300
INFORMATION
Sale of workshop Odette Dumaret, pupil of Suzanne Valadon
Online auction on April 23,2025
CONTACTS
Eva Palazuelos – Impressionist & Modern Art Manager
+33 1 53 30 30 48 – [email protected]
Ariane de Miramon – Press, Communication & Marketing Director
+33 1 53 30 30 68 – [email protected]