A Charming Oil on Canvas of the Staircase leading to the Grand Foyer at the Opéra Garnier by Marcel Cosson.
Born Jean-Louis Marcel Cosson in Bordeaux in 1878, he trained as an artist and, in 1901, received an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes Français followed by a medal in 1911.
He exhibited at the Salon de la Société des Beaux Arts, as well as at the Salon des Tuileries.
Over the years, he participated in numerous exhibitions in France and abroad, notably in New York and London.
His fame grew and his pieces became more and more thought after.
Marcel Cosson painted what he saw; Very active in Parisian artistic circles, he reproduced scenes from performance halls, circuses, the Opera and its backstage, but also scenes from high society and bourgeois life in brasseries, cafés, cabaret, restaurants and racecourses.
Strongly influenced by the work of Edgar Degas, Cosson has a particular affection for Opera scenes, where he positions himself and invites us to join him as a privileged spectator into the intimate space of the dancers.
He thus depicts the entire universe of these young women in the secret of their preparations: behind the curtain, in the private wings of the Opera house and the dressing rooms…
These scenes of spontaneity, grace and carefree freshness are the most sought after by collectors.
Cosson was able to create his own style, by mixing an impressionist technique in his delicate yet strong touch and the layered ‘Impastos’ which reveal broad brushstrokes as well as the choice of his bright and frank colors which refer more to Fauvism.
Marcel cosson passed away in Paris in 1956.
For this painting, Cosson positioned himself at one of the small relaxation areas located on either side of the Grand Foyer.
These two spaces serve as a transition between the Grand Foyer, bustling with activity, and the side galleries, known at the time as the Buffet Gallery and the Public Smoking Room.
This scene gives us an idea of the atmosphere that might have reigned in this place after the evening performance.
Here we see the ballerinas, elegantly dressed in their performance gowns, taking the stairs to the Grand Foyer and meeting their admirers and subscribers.
In the last quarter of the 19th century, the Opéra Garnier was a very fashionable place, where it was essential to be seen.
The most influential men, financiers, socialites, and great names of the nobility flocked there.
Becoming a “subscriber” was a social marker and a privilege. Subscriptions were often linked to high social status, particularly for the dressing rooms, which were a place of sociability and visibility.
This provided access to the backstage area, but also to the Foyer de la Danse, where the dancers would gather during rehearsals, intermissions, or before the performance.
A vivid scene depicting a slice of Parisian life at the end of the 19th century.
Original oil on canvas, signed lower right, in a giltwood frame.
Unframed 24 X 29
Framed 30 X 35