Art deco pastel by Roland Coudon
Roland Coudon (1903-1954)
"A Woman in the Streets of New York" – Pastel by Roland Coudon
Pastel on paper.
Dimensions with frame : 42cm 52cm
Pastel only ; 29cm 39cm
This evocative pastel by Roland Coudon (1897–1954) captures the melancholic atmosphere of New York in the aftermath of the 1929 stock market crash. A lone woman, elegantly dressed but with a distant, pensive gaze, strides through the towering cityscape. The geometric precision and bold lines of Art Deco—so synonymous with the optimism of the Roaring Twenties—now take on a more somber tone, reflecting the stark realities of an era in decline.
Coudon, a French painter and illustrator trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, was known for his mastery of portraiture and striking film posters, including the iconic "King Kong" (1933). His work often blended fine art with cinematic storytelling, and this piece is no exception. The muted yet sophisticated color palette, contrasted with the city's imposing architecture, conveys both the lingering glamour of the past decade and the uncertainty of the new one.
The woman's presence in the composition suggests resilience, yet her solitude hints at the growing hardship faced by many as the Jazz Age faded into the shadows of the Great Depression. Through this work, Coudon captures a pivotal moment in history—where modernity, elegance, and disillusionment converge on the bustling yet indifferent streets of New York.
"A Woman in the Streets of New York" – Pastel by Roland Coudon
Pastel on paper.
Dimensions with frame : 42cm 52cm
Pastel only ; 29cm 39cm
This evocative pastel by Roland Coudon (1897–1954) captures the melancholic atmosphere of New York in the aftermath of the 1929 stock market crash. A lone woman, elegantly dressed but with a distant, pensive gaze, strides through the towering cityscape. The geometric precision and bold lines of Art Deco—so synonymous with the optimism of the Roaring Twenties—now take on a more somber tone, reflecting the stark realities of an era in decline.
Coudon, a French painter and illustrator trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, was known for his mastery of portraiture and striking film posters, including the iconic "King Kong" (1933). His work often blended fine art with cinematic storytelling, and this piece is no exception. The muted yet sophisticated color palette, contrasted with the city's imposing architecture, conveys both the lingering glamour of the past decade and the uncertainty of the new one.
The woman's presence in the composition suggests resilience, yet her solitude hints at the growing hardship faced by many as the Jazz Age faded into the shadows of the Great Depression. Through this work, Coudon captures a pivotal moment in history—where modernity, elegance, and disillusionment converge on the bustling yet indifferent streets of New York.
REFERENCE: cou0702
