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A fine art print of Gustave Courtois' 1907 portrait of the athlete Maurice Deriaz, a powerful and iconic painting for collectors of classical and queer art.
  • A fine art print of Gustave Courtois' 1907 portrait of the athlete Maurice Deriaz, a powerful and iconic painting for collectors of classical and queer art.
  • A vintage wall art print featuring the striking portrait of strongman Maurice Deriaz by French painter Gustave Courtois, perfect for adding a touch of historical and masculine elegance to any room.
  • High quality giclée art prints of Gustave Courtois' renowned work, "Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz," capturing the intense detail and vibrant colours of the original 1907 oil painting.
  • A framed art print of Gustave Courtois' "Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz" displayed prominently in a modern luxury living room, enhancing the decor with a touch of classic art.
  • An academic art print showcasing a male figure, the athlete Maurice Deriaz, as painted by Gustave Courtois, a significant piece representing the shift in portraiture and a key work in queer art history.
  • An iconic and historically significant queer art poster featuring the portrait of Maurice Deriaz, a powerful and sensual work by Gustave Courtois that challenged social norms of the early 20th century.
  • A high-end wall art piece featuring the iconic Maurice Deriaz portrait by Gustave Courtois, perfectly framed and styled as a central feature in sophisticated living room decor.
  • A fine art print of Gustave Courtois' 1907 portrait of the athlete Maurice Deriaz, a powerful and iconic painting for collectors of classical and queer art.
  • A vintage wall art print featuring the striking portrait of strongman Maurice Deriaz by French painter Gustave Courtois, perfect for adding a touch of historical and masculine elegance to any room.
  • High quality giclée art prints of Gustave Courtois' renowned work, "Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz," capturing the intense detail and vibrant colours of the original 1907 oil painting.
  • A framed art print of Gustave Courtois' "Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz" displayed prominently in a modern luxury living room, enhancing the decor with a touch of classic art.
  • An academic art print showcasing a male figure, the athlete Maurice Deriaz, as painted by Gustave Courtois, a significant piece representing the shift in portraiture and a key work in queer art history.
  • An iconic and historically significant queer art poster featuring the portrait of Maurice Deriaz, a powerful and sensual work by Gustave Courtois that challenged social norms of the early 20th century.
  • A high-end wall art piece featuring the iconic Maurice Deriaz portrait by Gustave Courtois, perfectly framed and styled as a central feature in sophisticated living room decor.
Gustave Courtois Portait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz Print

Gustave Courtois Portait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz Print

£16.00 GBP
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The Athlete, The Artist, and The Allure

In the pantheon of captivating fine art, some portraits transcend time, and Gustave Courtois’ Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz is a masterpiece that continues to ignite conversation and admiration. ARTSNOB is thrilled to present a stunning reproduction of this iconic work, available as an exquisite art print.

Gustave Courtois (1852-1923), a celebrated portraitist in Parisian high society, made a bold statement in 1907 with this painting. Instead of a society lady or a nobleman, he chose to immortalise the young Swiss strongman and wrestler, Maurice Deriaz. The result is a work that is both a testament to the male form and a provocative statement on artistic conventions of the time. The portrait was met with raised eyebrows at the Paris Salon, with critics speculating about the nature of the relationship between artist and model. This controversy, far from dimming the painting's light, has only added to its magnetic allure. 🎨

Our premium art prints capture the exquisite detail and rich colour of the original painting. We use giclée fine art 12-color printing technology to ensure a level of colour vibrancy and depth far beyond standard prints. Printed on smooth matte 200 gsm paper, this art print offers a clean, glare free display, making it perfect for any home or office. It is also printed on environmentally conscious, FSC-certified paper, so you can feel good about your purchase.

Interesting Facts About the Painting 🧐

  • A "Deviant" Statement: By painting a bare chested athlete, Courtois deliberately broke the unspoken rules of academic portraiture. Most athletic subjects were depicted as mythological heroes or engaged in a sporting feat, not as humanised, half naked individuals.

  • A Familiar Face: Maurice Deriaz was a celebrity in his day, having graced the cover of the popular French physical culture magazine, La Culture Physique. Courtois’ portrait masterfully echoes a photograph of Deriaz from the magazine, giving the painting a contemporary, almost photographic quality.

  • More Than One Portrait: This was not the only time Courtois painted Deriaz. The artist also featured the athlete as a model in his mythological paintings, Hercules at the Feet of Omphale and Perseus Freeing Andromeda. All three works now reside in the city hall of Deriaz's hometown, Baulmes, in the Swiss Alps.

Portrait of the Athlete Maurice Deriaz is a cornerstone of queer art history, embodying the veiled homoeroticism that existed in art during the early 20th century. Courtois, a gay man who had a lifelong partner, used this portrait to subtly challenge the rigid social norms of his time. The painting’s palpable eroticism, from the athlete’s intense gaze to the graceful pose and flawless skin, was an open secret to those "in the know". Critics’ uneasy reactions at the 1907 Paris Salon hinted at this queer subtext, solidifying the painting’s place as a powerful symbol of coded expression and defiant beauty. It is a work that speaks to the historical importance of representing queer desire, even in the face of societal prejudice.