Featured Mystery Antique Oil Painting

I'm not seeing Potier. It seems to have an extra letter at the edge of the photo? Please provide another photo of the signature area, plus a little beyond that.

 

I can see that! I’ll look into it. Thanks

 

The signature is hard to photograph, because it’s dark font on dark paint. :-/ It does appear to be a dot over the “I” and a period at the end of the name- at least to my interpretation. When I try to post another photo, it keeps telling me it is too large, even from my cell phone. :-/

 

@Roaring20s I'm not sure if this picture embed will work? The first one is the signature "hiding" under normal lighting. The second one is the signature when light is shining just the right way on it!

Signature "hiding" by Hhalt13 posted Jul 3, 2021 at 9:23 PM

Signature with light by Hhalt13 posted Jul 3, 2021 at 9:23 PM

 

7 digit phone number. Cant be earlier than 1947.

 

Searching the address, the street names changed at some point, so can be too new either.

 

Research says the street names changed in 2007, so we got it pinned between 1947 and 2007 for the frame at least.

 

That's a much better image. I see now that the period after the name and the shape behind it made me think more was hidden.

It sure is interesting how the upper left is obscured, unless the light it bright. I wonder if it's old varnish or a restoration that has done that?

The painted image may reflect this portion of that link I posted earlier...
"In 1895, La Goulue decided to leave the Moulin Rouge and to pursue a career on her own, on her own. Unfortunately, the public does not follow her to her fairgrounds. The Parisian of the Moulin-Rouge is not the same as that of the funfairs and quickly the Goulue loses money so she tries to reconvert according to the fashions and she then becomes a cat tamer. After an animal attack that could have cost her her life, Louise Weber lets go of the whip and tries a career as an actress."

 

By jove your onto something !Well done !

 

Fascinating.

 

What made this "click" with you? Very obscure.

 

I was trying to research the phone number too, but didn't come up with much. It seems to be 2-6959 with part of the possible number ripped off; how can you tell it was seven digits? Also, are South African phone numbers the same as in the U.S.?

I have always thought the frame, as pretty as it is, doesn't quite fit the painting... perhaps because it was done at a much later date than the painting?

 

I'm very interested, but not quite understanding how the painting possibly connects with La Goulue becoming a cat tamer? Would love an explanation of your thoughts, thanks!

 

If this is an image of La Goulue, the caged lion behind her could be a representation of something this person is known for. And if it is known that circa 1895 she was a cat tamer, well maybe the painting dates circa 1895.

 

I really don't know. I've looked up La Goulue before - just curious about the Moulin Rouge characters depicted by Toulouse-Lautrec.

Nothing yet to say definitively that's who's depicted.

 

Ah, gotcha! I'm seeing more a face behind jail bars than a lion in a cage. I love how art is open to different interpretations!

 

I'm definitely seeing a big cat in a cage. Interesting!

 

1. The remaining space behind the known numbers and the edge appear to have the proper distancing for a 7 digit number

2. While the dates arent the same, yes, some African countries have the same phone number system as the US.

 

Thanks for the information!

 

This Aubray label post 1947.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1000038067/beautiful-mid-century-south-african