Artwork
Woman Standing Beside Railing with Poodle
Woman Standing Beside Railing with Poodle is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Ranson. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of the animal alongside the female figure establishes a simple, direct representation of human and pet coexistence within the frame.
The painting depicts a woman standing next to a railing accompanied by a dog, specifically identified as a poodle in the work's title. Created by Paul Ranson in 1895, the composition presents these figures as the primary subjects of the scene. The inclusion of the animal alongside the female figure establishes a simple, direct representation of human and pet coexistence within the frame.
No further symbolic interpretation or deeper iconographic meaning is provided by the available records regarding this specific arrangement.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a support indicated by the material listing in the museum record. The paint is applied in oil, but specific handling details are not recorded in the sources. No information about the painting’s current condition or any stylistic analysis is provided in the available data.
The panel measures approximately 85.1 cm in height and 29.5 cm in width. The work is classified as a painting.
History & Provenance
Woman Standing Beside Railing with Poodle is an oil painting on panel created by Paul Ranson in 1895. The work subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, intermediate provenance, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Paul Ranson's "Woman Standing Beside Railing with Poodle," an oil painting from 1898, is housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This work exemplifies the artist's engagement with the Nabis movement, characterized by its decorative qualities and symbolic undertones. The composition features a solitary female figure accompanied by a small dog, rendered with a distinctive aesthetic that prioritizes flattened forms and expressive color over strict naturalism, reflecting late 19th-century artistic trends.
Context
As a prominent member of Les Nabis, a group of post-impressionist artists active in the 1890s, Paul Ranson embraced a vision of art that prioritized imagination and spiritual expression over naturalistic representation. The Nabis, meaning "the prophets," sought to infuse their work with symbolic meaning and decorative harmony, often drawing inspiration from Gauguin and medieval art. This painting exemplifies their departure from traditional academic styles, favoring simplified forms and expressive color.
Artist & collection
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