Edmond AMAN-JEAN (Chevry-Cossigny, 1858 - Paris, 1936) Woman with a Bouquet of Peonies Pastel on paper mounted on canvas Signed and dated 'Aman Jean / 1900' lower left Canvas by Blanchet Woman with bouquet of peonies, pastel on paper, signed and dated, by E. Aman-Jean 15.75 x 12.60 in. 40.0 x 32.0 cm Provenance: Anonymous sale; Paris, Hôtel Drouot, s. 10, Me Guy Loudmer, 23 October 1970, no. 3 ; Acquired at this sale by Gérard Lévy ; Gérard Lévy Collection; Then by descent Exhibitions: Esthètes et Magiciens / Symbolistes des collections parisiennes, Paris, Musée Galliera, December 1970 - January 1971, cat. no. 4: "Portrait de Femme" [label on back]. Although Edmond Aman-Jean devoted most of his work to women, the primary muse of Art Nouveau and Symbolism, he often portrayed them in a reserved, distant and sometimes mysterious way, as if to enhance their seductive power. Here, a young woman with a dreamy expression holds a bouquet of peonies in an elegant transparent crystal vase. True to his taste, the artist combines a certain Old Regime gallantry with the modern edginess of powdered pastel effects, giving the composition an atmosphere of gentle languor. Edmond AMAN-JEAN (Chevry-Cossigny, 1858 - Paris, 1936) 40.0 x 32.0 cm Although Edmond Aman-Jean devoted most of his work to women, the first muse of Art Nouveau and Symbolism, he most often portrayed them in a reserved, distant and sometimes mysterious way, as if to increase their power of seduction. Here, a young woman with a dreamy expression holds a bouquet of peonies in an elegant transparent crystal vase. True to his taste, the artist combines a certain Old Regime gallantry with the modern edginess of powdered pastel effects, giving the composition an atmosphere of gentle languor.