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Dimensions: 92 by 73cm., 36 1/8 by 28 3/4 in.
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Provenance: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE SWISS COLLECTION
Acquired by the family of the present owner in Paris circa 1920
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Notes: The present work was painted at the height of Sérusier's Pont-Aven period, while working closely with Gauguin, Emile Bernard and other artists attracted to Brittany by the striking landscape and colourful costumes of the local people. Under Gauguin's influence, Sérusier began to experiment around 1888 with a new style of painting, using flat colours and outlining simple forms chosen for both emotional and descriptive reasons. Maurice Denis noted how Gauguin initially explained to Sérusier his ideas about painting: 'What colour do you see that tree? Is it green? Then use green, the finest green in your palette. And that shadow? It's blue, if anything? Don't be afraid to paint it as blue as you possibly can' (Maurice Denis, "L'Influence de Paul Gauguin", in L'Occidente, October 1903).
Sérusier applied these ideals to his style which became known as Synthetisme or Cloisonnisme. Madeleine à l'offrande is a striking example of the manner that inspired the Nabis group, started by Sérusier around this time.
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