Femme à la Corbeille is a character study for the central figure in Henri Martin’s Le Port de Marseille
– a monumental painting he was commissioned to paint for the Conseil d’État in the Palais-Royal, commissioned in 1914 and finished in 1922. It formed part of a larger decorative scene on four grand allegories of Agriculture, Industry/Public Works, Commerce – represented by the activity of the port of Marseille – and Intellectual Labour. Another preparatory painting for that work is included in the current exhibition, no. 20, in which the present figure can be seen. There, she forms part of broader panoramic of activity along the quay; extracted in the present work, she stands as a striking figure in her own right.

The wicker basket held aloft on her head and filled with harvest produce, also serves to shield her eyes from the Mediterranean sunlight. The sensation of heat is evocatively conveyed through the bold colour palette. The figure’s garment pulses with vermilion and orange, applied through distinctive colour separation, achieving what Albert Dubois-Pillet described as ‘vibrating light’ through contrasting complementary hues. The ambiguous background is also a masterful example of Martin’s highly developed painting technique. Unlike traditional Pointillism, Martin uses broader, gestural brushstrokes worked in various directions that animate the composition. The overall effect is a captivating moment suspended in time that leaves an enduring impression.