PICARD LE DOUX (Charles). 66 Original Drawings. "Gagneuses" - Lot 246

PICARD LE DOUX (Charles). 66 Original Drawings. "Gagneuses" by S. Bonmariage. Precious album of 66 Indian ink drawings, all signed and mounted in marie-louise, with a handwritten title page. 1952. Volume in-4 (274 x 195 mm). In sheets, in double cardboard slipcase. 2ff.n.ch. 66 drawings. Dust jacket damaged, case rubbed. Exceptional set of 66 original Indian ink drawings, signed with the artist's monogram. These works were created to illustrate Sylvain Bonmariage's book, "Gagneuses. Chronique de l'amour vénal à Paris" (éditions La Clé d'Or, 1951). A specialist in the female figure, Charles Picard le Doux (1881-1959) provides a striking graphic testimony to Parisian brothels and the daily lives of prostitutes. His highly precise brushstrokes capture the silhouettes and faces of this "world apart" with elegance and sensitivity. Far from being a mere documentary, Picard le Doux treats his subject with sensitive respect, blending sensuality and melancholy. This collection constitutes a unique artistic archive on the nightlife of post-war Paris.