Cubist Portrait Of Two Men By Jean Lambert Rucki Appraisal

Cubist Portrait of Two Men by Jean Lambert-Rucki

This small-scale painting is a quintessential example of the Art Deco and Cubist movements, attributed to the renowned Polish-French artist Jean Lambert-Rucki (1888–1967). The medium appears to be gouache or oil on panel or heavy paper, featuring a highly stylized composition of two male figures. The subjects are rendered in a profile and three-quarter view, wearing traditional headwear including a top hat and a bowler hat. The color palette is composed of muted earth tones, blacks, greys, and pale yellows, accented by vibrant blocks of pink and salmon in the background. Geometrical simplification is a key hallmark here, with sharp lines and flat planes defining the faces and garments. A signature is visible in the upper right quadrant, likely reading 'J. Lambert-Rucki'. The work is housed in a simple wooden inner frame with an outer dark wood moulding. The condition appears stable, though there is some visible foxing or surface spotting particularly on the inner wooden frame. The style suggests a creation date in the 1920s or 1930s, reflecting the avant-garde aesthetic of Montparnasse where the artist was a central figure. The craftsmanship demonstrates a sophisticated mastery of spatial recession and decorative abstraction typical of the Section d'Or influence.