By the 1920s, when ‘Le paddock à Deauville’ was painted, Kees van Dongen was renowned for his depictions of Parisian bourgeoise society. Emerging from the trauma of World War I, there was a refreshed desire for joy and frivolity, with artists turning to celebratory events for inspiration.

The racecourse at Deauville in Northern France was the subject of many paintings by leading artists at this time such as Van Dongen’s fellow fauve, Raoul Dufy. Van Dongen first visited Deauville in 1912, capturing life during the Belle Époque. In ‘Le paddock à Deauville’ Van Dongen depicts the theatrical atmosphere of the event, with elegant patrons gracefully strolling across the grass and horses trotting around the ring. The dynamic lines of the figures are intensified by the vibrant colour palette – reminiscent of his earlier Fauve paintings - capturing the excitement and drama of the scene.

As seen inscribed on the verso of this painting, Van Dongen painted ‘Le paddock à Deauville’ at his residence in Villa Saïd, a cul-de-sac on the edge of the park Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It was a highly fashionable address with Anatole France and Pierre Laval, the future Prime Minister of France also living there.