Émilie Charmy

ÉMILIE CHARMY
Saint-Étienne (France) 1878 – Crosne (France) 1974

Still Life with Pomegranates
About 1904
Oil on canvas
46.4 x 54.9 cm

Gift of Indivision Bouch

© Émilie Charmy, ADAGP, Paris / CARCC Ottawa 2025
Photo MMFA, Jean-François Brière

A pioneer of modern painting, Émilie Charmy succeeded in establishing her place in the small, male-dominated circles of the Parisian avant-garde. In so doing, she paved the way for other women artists to follow. Her intense colour palette and lively brushstrokes transcended what was considered “feminine art,” often leading her to be misnamed a “Fauve.” For, Charmy never joined the group, and indeed remained steadfastly independent the entire length of her career. In 1905, she drew the eye of gallerist Berthe Weill, who would go on to present her work in numerous group exhibitions.

Still Life with Pomegranates demonstrates a certain pictorial boldness with its rich, saturated colours, dark outlines, dense composition and assertive brushwork. This style of painting became Charmy’s trademark, confounding critics who saw it as a typically masculine approach.

In this vibrantly coloured canvas, the artist revisits the still life with an avant-garde spirit.