“First Tracks at Courchevel, French Alps” 
Marius Chambon (French, 1876-1962)
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right.
16 1/2 x 10 1/2 (24 x 18 frame) inches
 
Capturing the moment in the morning’s early light, when the powder is still untouched. A wistful image of the ultimate ski day: First tracks!
 
Marius Chambon (French, 1876-1962) was a student of the ground-breaking and highly influential Gustave Moreau and the famous portraitist François Flameng, two important painters from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chambon was also accepted as a member of the Société des Artistes Français where he exhibited regularly and received an honorable mention in 1920. He also became a member of the Salon des Tuileries.

Known as a painter of landscapes and still lifes, he also produced a number of portraits: in 1901, he painted the official portrait of French President Émile Loubet. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, Chambon spent time in the Mediterranean focusing mainly on painting in the region around the Opal Coast (Pas-de-Calais). Other sojourns would take him to him to the Haute Alpes where he created this image of first ski tracks at Courchevel. 
 
Marius Chambon spanned a large part of the 20th century and confidently embraced several styles. The Musée du Touquet has several of his works and organized a monographic exhibition in 1998.