EXPRESSIONIST OIL ON CANVAS

COURSAN
FRANCE, 1960'S
31½" x 23½"

A mid-century oil on canvas by the French artist Coursan, active during the 1960s. Executed in bold, expressive brushstrokes, the work depicts a solitary figure in quiet repose: head resting heavily against one hand, eyes closed, cup in hand. Rich cobalt blues grounding the composition against a backdrop of warm ochres, blush, and muted neutrals. The textured brushstrokes and emotive palette evoke a sense of fatigue and contemplation, balancing both heaviness and serenity.

Coursan’s work falls within the expressionist and art brut tradition of post-war France, capturing the inner psychology of the subject rather than polished realism. The gestural handling of paint and emotional intensity align closely with contemporaneous European movements exploring fatigue, solitude, and the everyday human condition.