Lot 172. Maria Melania KLINGSLAND, known as Mela MUTER (1876–1967). Still Life. Oil on canvas, signed upper right. 73 x 60 cm. Estimate €40,000 – 60,000. Thierry de Maigret. 07/01/26

Provenance: Former collection of Mrs. Henry Lapauze* Private collection * This is most likely Henry Lapauze’s (1867–1925) third wife, Marie Paule Fontenelle (1889–1975)

In this composition, Muter does not treat the subject merely as a still-life exercise. The fish, likely the catch of the day, are placed on a newspaper whose title [La] Dépêche is visible. This detail, linking fishing and Dépêche, fresh produce and fresh news, introduces a touch of humor without diverting the eye from the painting itself.

The painting’s composition rests on a highly controlled balance; the motif initially appears disordered, almost improvised, but Muter has perfect mastery over its organization; she employs a thick, almost jagged brushstroke, composed of impasto, overpainting, and streaks of color. The back of the chair, placed in the background, gives the scene a domestic and familiar anchor, while the green bottle, standing upright on the left, stabilizes the composition. Its deep green acts as a counterpoint to the pink, red, and orange tones of the fish, reinforcing their intensity. Muter thus contrasts the cool green of the bottle with the pinks, reds, and oranges of the fish. The chair, the newspaper, and the bottle place the scene in a simple, everyday setting, while the thick, energetic brushwork gives the motif an immediate, lifelike presence.

On the reverse, an old handwritten label bears the inscription “Exhibition of Madam… / Still Life / Belongs to Mrs. Henry Lapauze / 10 rue Royale.” This indication leads us to believe that Mme Henry Lapauze is most likely Marie-Paule Fontenelle, the third and last wife of Henry Lapauze, art critic, curator of the Petit Palais, and founder of *La Renaissance de l’art français et des industries du luxe*. After her husband’s death in 1925, Marie-Paule Lapauze continued her work in the Parisian art world: she took over the direction of the magazine and opened, in 1926, the Galerie de la Renaissance.

Dom aukcyjny włożył sporo wysiłku by opisać i wytłumaczyć Meli Muter martwą naturę z rybami leżącymi na gazecie.