The artist has signed the work just below the birds, "V Olivier", and has created a fine example of "Nature Morte", a still life of birds hung on a string and nail - the most simple future meal, symbolic of a prayer of gratitude for the provision of the spare simple and sometimes rare meal. A thankful heart in simple times. Usually this type were hung without frame and in a kitchen or fireplace area where the resident will cook a meal of plucked birds, not grand at all and only a few bites, perhaps a carrot of leeks, some small gleaning of vegetable. I have long collected these, and appreciate the prayer of sacrifice they represented. This is a large one at 17.25" x 12.25" and the board is about 3/8" thick, with a natural knot hole and board grain - beautiful! The artist has dated this one, 1900.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, painted in oil on a slender sawn board, beautiful grain varnished to show nature on nature. Again, the genre is called, in French, "Nature Morte" and these are superb in combination with Black Forest carvings. No cracks or damage, just the natural flaws to the wood.
