A WORK FEATURED IN THE FIKRET MUALLÂ CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ PREPARED BY KEREM TOPUZ AND MARC OTTAVI…
Fikret Mualla - "Trois Ballerines"
MUALLÂ’S BALLERINAS…
In his compositions featuring ballerinas, Fikret Muallâ captures a theatrical moment on stage with his distinctive gouache technique vivid, gestural, and emotionally charged. In the work offered for sale at auction, the composition depicts three ballerinas dressed in bright and cheerful tutus against a burgundy background, radiating both energy and melancholy.
Muallâ’s approach to form is clearly visible in the bold and loose brushstrokes that define the figures. The dancers are rendered with an almost ghostlike presence. Although the scene may appear simple at first glance, there is a powerful psychological depth beneath the surface: while the three form a unified group, each ballerina expresses her individuality through posture and expression. Elegance, fatigue, and introspection coexist in this scene.
Renowned for depicting Parisian street life, cafés, and circuses, Muallâ conveys the same immediacy and human fragility in this work. Trois Ballerines is not merely a scene of performance; it is a window into the emotional layer and vulnerability behind the spectacle.
With its raw charm and vibrant color palette, this painting is a striking testament to Muallâ’s ability to express emotion, movement, and memory in a simple yet powerful manner.
Gouche on paper
22,5 x 30 cm
1952, signed
This work is on page 224 of the Fikret Mualla Catalogue Raisonnée, Volume I, prepared by Kerem Topuz and Marc Ottavi.
Estimate: 300.000 TL - 450.000 TL
Starting Price: 240.000 TL
