Mid-20th century French school (H. Dufoix) Portrait of President Paul Reynaud, in profile Graphite on paper Signed 'En hommage au Président Paul Reynaud / son huissier du ministère des Finances', signed and dated '1948' lower right 28.5 x 21.5 cm (11 ¼ x 8 ½ in.) Portrait of Paul Raynaud, pencil on paper Commentary: Paul Reynaud under the Fourth Republic Paul Reynaud was elected Member of Parliament for Nord from 1946 to 1962. He held several ministerial posts under the Fourth Republic and was fully committed to the European integration project. He was a member of in the Assemblée Commune from 1952 and contributed to the development of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). He became Chairman of the French Committee for a Free Europe. He put his talents as an orator to good use in promoting these new ideas and gave numerous lectures, particularly in the United States. In 1958, in view of the political stalemate caused by the Algerian problem and his own personal esteem, he supported General de Gaulle's return to power. Mid-twentieth century French school (H. Dufoix)