Il Gioco di Poker (1902) di Félix Vallotton raffigura la moglie dell’artista, Gabrielle Rodrigues-Henriques, mentre gioca a carte con la madre e lo zio.
Amante dell’arte e figlia di Alexandre Bernheim. Quest’ultimo fu amico di Delacroix, Corot e Courbet e promotore della Scuola di Barbizon, nonché di impressionisti e post-impressionisti. Fu il primo ad organizzare una personale di Van Gogh nella sua galleria d’arte e promosse lo stesso Valloton.
Nel dipinto, tuttavia, Valloton colloca i personaggi ad una distanza quasi inaccessibile, a volerne sottolineare l’importanza, ma anche per svelare il momento di rottura con la moglie e la sua famiglia. La donna è, infatti, raffigurata di spalle e Valloton rifiutò sempre di vendere loro le proprie opere. La lontananza del dipinto rispecchia, quindi, quella della vita reale.
This Poker Game by Félix Vallotton shows the artist’s wife, Gabrielle Rodrigues-Henriques, playing cards with her mother and uncle.
She was an art lover and the daughter of Alexandre Bernheim. The latter was a friend of Delacroix, Corot and Courbet and a promoter of the Barbizon School, as well as the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. He was the first to organise a Van Gogh solo exhibition in his gallery and promoted Valloton himself.
In the painting, however, Valloton places the characters at an almost inaccessible distance, to emphasise their importance, but also to reveal the moment of break with his wife and family. The woman is shown from behind and Valloton always refused to sell his works to them. The remoteness of the painting therefore reflects that of real life.
Ce Jeu de Poker de Félix Vallotton montre la femme de l’artiste, Gabrielle Rodrigues-Henriques, jouant aux cartes avec sa mère et son oncle.
Amatrice d’art, elle est la fille d’Alexandre Bernheim. Ce dernier était un ami de Delacroix, Corot et Courbet et un promoteur de l’école de Barbizon, ainsi que des impressionnistes et post-impressionnistes. Il a été le premier à organiser une exposition personnelle de Van Gogh dans sa galerie et a assuré lui-même la promotion de Valloton.
Dans le tableau, cependant, Valloton place les personnages à une distance presque inaccessible, pour souligner leur importance, mais aussi pour révéler le moment de la rupture avec sa femme et sa famille. La femme est représentée de dos et Valloton a toujours refusé de leur vendre ses œuvres. L’éloignement du tableau reflète donc celui de la vie réelle.
Emanuela Borgatta Dunnett
Manu Writes and Reviews 