André MARGAT (1903-1999), "Gorilla", drawing in three pencils on a silver leaf ground, signed and dated lower right in red. H. 64 x 50 cm (view) Provenance Montreux private collection Note: A prolific and discreet artist, André Margat (1903-1999) established himself in the twentieth century as a singular figure on the French artistic scene, particularly through his depictions of the animal world. Among his favourite subjects, the monkey occupies a central place, testifying to his attentive eye for nature and his formal search for a balance between observation and stylisation. Trained at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Margat's work is rooted in the Art Deco aesthetic, which he enhanced with his remarkable technical mastery. He also excelled in his technique, as demonstrated by his works on gold and silver leaf backgrounds, which reflect a refined quest for decoration that blends Japanese tradition with the spirit of Art Deco.