A captivating mid-to-late 20th-century French Impressionist oil painting signed in the bottom left and dated 1988, depicting a charming alpine village blanketed in snow. Painted with a confident, textured impasto technique, the artwork beautifully captures the crisp atmosphere of a winter mountain day. Nestled in a striking, deeply molded Rococo-style swept gilt frame with a black velvet liner, this piece offers an exquisite blend of vibrant color and classic European elegance.
The painting features a snowy hillside in the foreground, leading the eye toward a picturesque village center punctuated by a classic church steeple. The artist uses a rich, tactile impasto layer to give the snow and mountain backdrop physical texture and movement. Jewel-toned pops of orange, deep green, and lavender bring warmth and life to the icy landscape.
Size: 21.5ins x 17.5ins or 54.5cms x 45cms
Condition: The painting is in good vintage condition, expect minor imperfections. The frame is also in good condition, but you should expect minor renovations throughout and some cracking at each of the corners, although it is stable.
About the artist: Irène Pagès (b. 1934) French Postwar Impressionist & Landscape Painter. Pagès is a recognized French Postwar and Contemporary painter known for her vibrant, light-filled interpretations of the French landscape, coastal marine scenes, and intimate still lifes. Born in 1934 in Agde, a historic Mediterranean port town in the Hérault department of southern France, her artistic sensibilities were deeply shaped by the sun-drenched atmosphere, intense colors, and shifting light of the French Riviera and southern regions.
Pagès established a distinctive painterly voice rooted firmly in the traditions of French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. She is celebrated for her expressive, confident handling of paint, frequently employing a thick, structural impasto technique applied with both brush and palette knife.
Rather than focusing on meticulous, rigid realism, Pagès uses bold, textured strokes to capture the pure atmosphere and sensory feeling of a place. Her palette is famously lively, balancing rich, jewel-toned pops of orange, ochre, and deep lavender against cool blues, crisp whites, and earthy greens. Whether capturing a sunlit terrace in Nice, a bustling harbor in Monaco, or a quiet, snow-covered alpine village, her work radiates a sense of texture, movement, and spontaneous vitality.
Throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, Pagès’ work gained steady commercial and institutional traction within France and internationally. A testament to her early talent, her substantial oil painting "Oliveraie à Nice" (Olive Grove in Nice) was officially purchased by the French state directly from the artist in 1947 and remains registered in the prestigious collection of the Centre National des Arts Plastiques (CNAP).
Her paintings were frequently handled by notable mid-century galleries, including the historic Galerie des Lilas, and she established a robust market presence for her classic European scenes.
Today, Irène Pagès remains a highly collectible name among enthusiasts of mid-to-late 20th-century European fine art. Her works are regularly featured in prominent French and international auction houses (including Rossini, Rossini Paris, and Côte Basque Enchères), where they are sought after for their quintessential French charm, mastery of light, and highly tactile surfaces that bring classic gallery-wall statements to life.
For USA clients - no need to worry about tariffs! All our paintings are sent to the United States of America via express delivery with all duties and tariffs covered, there are no additional costs to you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me