Roland CHANCO (1914-2017), Cubist Pastel and gouache drawing, signed, titled and dated

Roland CHANCO (1914-2017): Still life, fruit and bottle. Pastel and gouache drawing, signed lower right, titled and dated 2002 on the back

65 x 50 cm

Unframed

Bibliography: Catalogue raisonné Volume IV no. 119

Roland Chanco (1914–2017) stands among the discreet yet remarkable figures of 20th-century French art, celebrated for his singular ability to merge poetic intensity with a boldly personal visual language. A close contemporary of Picasso and a member of the School of Paris, Chanco crafted a universe where colour, line, and emotion intertwine with rare sensitivity.

His works—often inhabited by enigmatic faces, lyrical silhouettes, and dreamlike atmospheres—are instantly recognisable for their expressive freedom and richly textured surfaces. Chanco’s artistic journey, spanning more than eight decades, reveals an uncompromising dedication to exploring the depths of human expression, resulting in paintings that are both intimate and powerfully evocative.

Today, his creations are sought after by discerning collectors who value authenticity, artistic depth, and the timeless allure of a painter whose vision remained remarkably independent. Roland Chanco’s oeuvre stands as a refined testament to a life devoted entirely to art—rare, resonant, and undeniably captivating.

This vibrant composition by Roland Chanco (1914–2017) captures the expressive freedom and lyrical abstraction that define his most sought-after works. Executed with bold, pastel-rich strokes, the painting reimagines the traditional still life through a dynamic interplay of form, color and movement.

At the center, a pedestal fruit bowl holding two luminous oranges becomes the anchor of the scene, surrounded by fragmented planes of turquoise, terracotta, and cream. Chanco’s intentional use of powerful blacks—sweeping diagonals and geometric silhouettes—creates a striking contrast that both structures the composition and injects rhythmic tension. A solitary green bottle, rendered with a soft transparency, adds depth and an elegant vertical counterbalance.

The palette is unmistakably Chanco: sun-soaked Mediterranean tones, vivid blues and warm earth hues, merging into a lively choreography of broken forms and curved gestures. His textured application of color brings a tactile intensity, transforming the still life into a vibrant tableau that feels alive and continuously in motion.

A perfect embodiment of Chanco’s post-Cubist sensibility, this work celebrates his ability to transform everyday objects into poetic, modernist abstractions. Signed confidently in the lower right, it stands as a refined and rare example of the artist’s mature visual language—a collectible piece of expressive modern art with undeniable character and charm.

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