Macario Vitalis’s 1939 Houses by Creekside, Parisian Suburb embodies the contemporary Parisian art scene with which he found himself swept in. Arriving in Paris in 1926, Vitalis fell into the company of Puteaux’s “The Golden Section”, a group of Cubist artists who routinely meet at Camille Renault's Big Boy restaurant. This wave of fresh ideas invigorated Vitalis, leading to a career that bore the electric zeitgeist of pre-war Paris.
Houses by Creekside, Parisian Suburb shows Vitalis’s fresher and more impressionistic style. Possibly painted on the spot, the work details a quaint street by the canals. It is almost devoid of human presence and as such the town itself becomes the main character of the painting – we take note of the water's clarity and the way it ripples under the soft sunlight. The tightly packed houses juxtapose the tranquil riverside, emphasizing the uniqueness and allure of this tiny town. A work that is reminiscent of the lively Parisian art scene of the time, Houses by Creekside, Parisian Suburb is Vitalis at the verge of greatness. He imbues this town with small eccentricities that make the scene come to life – it is not merely houses on a street but a lived-in structure with its own stories, histories, and dreams. (Hannah Valiente)
Accompanied by a certificate issued by Comité Vitalis confirming the authenticity of this lot
Provenance: Private collection, Manila