PAUL CHMAROFF (1874-1950) Bathers

signed 'Schmarov' (lower left) oil on canvas 63 x 116.5 cm 1920s Paul Chmaroff always felt a connection with his homeland upon emigrating from revolutionary Russia to Paris in 1924. He expressed his reminiscences in a series of genre paintings of peasant life. They are unified by a single style, with large and dense strokes, sophisticated colours, and a spirit that affirms the joy of life and celebrates the beauty of a Slavic woman. Paul Chmaroff's 'peasants'were popular at Paris exhibitions in the mid-20th century. An impressionist glow of light and colour emantes from this painting. The artist fills the space with the sunshine and the air, creating local spots of colour: light pink and cadmium yellow on the skirts and white on the sleeves of the peasant women. Three shawls on their heads are particularly expressive, like three strokes of colour: cadmium red, golden ochre and grass green. Paul Chmaroff had a particular sense of colour and ability to use oil paints in such a way that the neighbouring colours, though pure and self-sufficient, formed a dazzling symphony in combination with one another. An incredible synthesis is developed by the artist, where a peaceful scene, femininity and the impressionist manner harmoniously complete each other. It is a silent conversation between two cultures. It should be mentioned that the painter used several versions of his signature on the canvases (Chmaroff, P. Chmaroff, Schmarov, Shmarov).