Elena Rossi
Paul Émile Chabas was a French painter and illustrator born in Nantes, France, in 1869. He received his artistic training under William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury and first exhibited at the Salon in 1890. Chabas became known for his paintings of nude young women in natural settings, with his most famous work being September Morn, completed in 1911. This painting, depicting a nude young woman standing in a lake, caused controversy in the United States in 1913 when it was deemed immoral by Anthony Comstock, the head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. Chabas's work continues to be influential, and he is considered one of Europe's greatest painters of nudes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painter | Paul Émile Chabas |
| Birth year | 1869 |
| Death year | 1937 |
| Place of birth | Nantes, France |
| Painting name | September Morn |
| Year of completion | 1911 |
| Year of first exhibition | 1912 |
| Exhibition location | Paris Salon |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 216.5 cm |
| Subject | Nude young woman |
| Setting | Lake |
| Lighting | Morning sun |
| Owner | Leon Mantashev |
| Scandal | Considered immoral by Anthony Comstock |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's model
Paul Émile Chabas was a celebrated portrait painter and is considered one of Europe's greatest painters of nudes. His most famous painting, "September Morn", caused controversy in the United States in 1913 when Anthony Comstock, head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, protested against the painting as supposedly immoral. The painting depicts a nude young woman standing in the shallow water of a lake, prominently lit by the morning sun.
Chabas refused to identify the model, referring to her only as "Marthe". However, several women claimed to be the model for the painting, and the controversy surrounding the model's identity refused to disappear. As late as 1935, a rumour circulated that the young woman was living in poverty, and Chabas received letters from people in the US who wanted to aid her.
One source identifies Suzanne Delve, who posed for the painting at age sixteen, as the model. Delve described her nervousness at the first session, with her mother chatting to distract her while Chabas's wife played soothing music on the piano. Delve said she took her pose "instinctively" and that the controversy over the painting had ruined her life, as no Frenchman would want to marry a woman marred by scandal.
Another source, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), presents a different version of events. According to the Met, Chabas completed the painting over three summers at Lake Annecy, and his peasant model served only as the basis for the figure's body. The head was based on a sketch of a young American, Julie Phillips, whom Chabas had observed dining in Paris. Chabas found her profile to his liking, so he silently drew her, then introduced himself and apologised for his presumption.
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The artist's inspiration
Paul Émile Chabas (1869–1937) was a French painter and illustrator, considered one of Europe's greatest painters of nudes. He was born in Nantes, France, and received his artistic training under William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury. Chabas first exhibited at the Salon in 1890 and won the Prix National at the 1899 Paris Salon with his painting "Joyeux Ébats". He was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 and in 1912 received the Médaille d’honneur.
Chabas's preferred subject was a nude young woman in a natural setting, and his paintings often featured lakes and rivers in France as common backdrops. Chabas's style has been attributed to his time spent at his family's summer home along the Erdre, where he would have observed the "grace of adolescence, its undefinable charm, [and] its chaste nudity". Art historian Bram Dijkstra, however, has argued that Chabas "emphasized analogies of nude little girls and the familiar poses of vanity or physical arousal given to adult women".
Chabas's most famous painting, "September Morn", was completed in 1911 and first exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1912. The painting depicts a nude girl or young woman standing in the shallow water of a lake, with her body shaded and illuminated by the morning sun. The painting caused controversy in the United States, with Anthony Comstock, head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, protesting against the painting as supposedly immoral. Despite the controversy, the painting was well-received by the public, and Chabas set a price of $10,000, which was eventually paid by Leon Mantashev, the son of an oil magnate.
Chabas refused to identify the model in "September Morn", referring to her only as "Marthe". The artist's inspiration for the painting likely came from his interest in capturing the beauty of the female form in a natural setting, as well as exploring the interplay of light and shadow to create a sense of mood and atmosphere. Chabas's use of an ambiguous pose for the figure has been interpreted in various ways, reflecting the complex and often contradictory nature of human perception and societal expectations surrounding femininity and modesty.
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The painting's reception
Paul Émile Chabas' painting "September Morn" received a varied response upon its exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1912. The painting depicts a nude young woman standing in the shallow water of a lake, illuminated by the morning sun. Chabas' work sparked controversy, particularly in the United States, where it was deemed immoral and indecent by some. Anthony Comstock, head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, led protests against the painting. The painting's ambiguous nature, with the subject's posture being interpreted in multiple ways, added to the debate surrounding it.
Despite the controversy, "September Morn" attracted much publicity and gained a reputation as a "succès de scandale". Chabas' refusal to identify the model, known only as "Marthe," further fuelled interest in the painting. Rumours persisted for years, with some speculating about the model's identity and even her well-being, while others profited from reproductions of the painting. Chabas himself did not profit from these reproductions and expressed disappointment that those who did were not more grateful.
The painting was also interpreted and valued differently by art critics and writers. François Thiébault-Sisson, an art critic, described the painting as evocative of the morning and the young woman's preparation for bathing. Later writers, however, described "September Morn" as kitsch, with some even considering it valuable only as a historical artifact. The painting has also been analysed for its erotic or pornographic subtexts, with varying conclusions being drawn about the artist's intentions and the true nature of the work.
Chabas himself held "September Morn" in high regard, considering it to encapsulate all his knowledge of painting. He acknowledged that some viewed it as his masterpiece, a sentiment that he seemed to agree with. The painting's fame and the varied responses it evoked are a testament to its impact, even if some of the attention was unwelcome by Chabas.
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The artist's technique
Paul Émile Chabas (1869–1937) was a French painter and illustrator, considered one of the greatest painters of the nude. His preferred subject was a nude young woman in a natural setting, and he often depicted his models in lakes and rivers in France, highlighting the interplay of light with their bodies and the surrounding landscape.
Chabas's most famous painting, "September Morn" (1911), is an oil painting on canvas. It depicts a nude girl or young woman standing in the shallow water of a lake, with the morning sun illuminating her body. The painting is dominated by shades of grey, from the blue-greys of the water to the green-greys of the sky and the pink-greys of the hills behind her. Chabas's signature is located in the lower left corner of the painting, which measures 163.8 by 216.5 centimetres (64.5 by 85.2 inches).
Chabas painted "September Morn" over several summers, and it is said that he combined two different models to create the final composition. The body of the figure was based on a peasant model, while the head was inspired by a sketch of a young American woman, Julie Phillips, dining in a Paris restaurant. Chabas first drew her profile without her knowledge and then introduced himself and apologised for his presumption.
Chabas entered "September Morn" in the Paris Salon of 1912, setting a price of $10,000, which he believed no one would pay. However, Leon Mantashev, the son of an oil magnate, purchased the painting. The work sparked controversy in the United States, with Anthony Comstock, head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, protesting against its supposed immorality. Chabas refused to identify the model, referring to her only as "Marthe," and the controversy surrounding the painting's model persisted for years. Despite the debates surrounding the work, Chabas considered "September Morn" to encapsulate all that he knew about painting, and he loved it, even referring to it as his masterpiece.
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The painting's ownership
Paul Émile Chabas' painting "September Morn" depicts a nude young woman standing in the shallow waters of a lake, backlit by the morning sun. Chabas painted the artwork over several summers, completing it in 1911. The painting was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1912, where Chabas set a price of $10,000, believing that no one would pay that amount. However, Leon Mantashev, the son of oil magnate Alexander Mantashev, purchased the painting by the end of 1913.
Leon Mantashev took the painting to Russia, and it was feared lost in the aftermath of the October Revolution of 1917. Fortunately, it resurfaced in 1935 in the collection of Calouste Gulbenkian. After Gulbenkian's death in 1955, the painting was sold to a Philadelphia broker, who donated it anonymously.
Prior to its sale, Chabas had stated that he did not intend to sell "September Morn" as it was his wife's favourite painting. Chabas never revealed the identity of the model, referring to her only as "Marthe." However, several women claimed to be the subject of the painting, and controversy surrounded the model's identity. As late as 1935, rumours circulated that the young woman was living in poverty, and Chabas received letters from people in the US who wanted to aid her.
"September Morn" gained much publicity, and reproductions of the painting sold well for years. Chabas commented that he made no money from these reproductions, although many others profited from his work. The painting was considered a "succès de scandale" in the United States in May 1913 when Anthony Comstock, head of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, protested against the painting as supposedly immoral. Chabas was offended by the controversy, and it is notable that he refused to sell the painting to a US newspaper publisher.
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Frequently asked questions
Paul Émile Chabas painted "September Morn" over several summers, completing it in 1911.
"September Morn" was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1912.
"September Morn" depicts a nude young woman standing in the shallow water of a lake, lit by the morning sun. The painting has been interpreted in various ways, including as a portrayal of innocence, modesty, or sponge bathing.
