Autumn Trees in French Villa Garden Modernist Watercolour Landscape

Title: Autumn Trees in French Villa Garden Modernist Watercolour Landscape
Guy Nicod (French 1923 – 2021)
Gouache on artist paper, unframed
Size: 19.75 x 12.75 inches (height x width)
Provenance: Artists estate, France
Condition: good overall condition with light edge wear, gentle handling creases to the margins and minor age toning to the paper; colours remain fresh and well preserved

Description:
A lyrical French modernist landscape by Guy Nicod, this watercolour and gouache study captures the quiet elegance of a villa garden framed by tall trees in warm autumnal colour. Nicod layers transparent washes with bolder, opaque touches to build a lively interplay of sky blue, terracotta, and deep green. The strong trunks and sweeping branches create a rhythmic vertical structure, while looser passages of foliage and garden shrubs keep the scene spontaneous and painterly. Hints of classical architecture rise behind the trees, suggesting a sunlit courtyard or chateau façade—details that anchor the composition and heighten its sense of place.
This work reflects Nicod’s gift for transforming everyday views into expressive, modern images. The palette evokes late-season light and Mediterranean warmth, making the painting ideal for interiors that favour natural tones and textured surfaces. Collectors seeking French mid-century style, plein-air landscapes, or modern European garden scenes will find much to admire here: confident brushwork, fresh colour, and a balanced composition that reads beautifully from across the room.
As a decorative focal point, the piece pairs well with neutral frames and linen mounts, and its vertical format suits alcoves, hallways, or above a console. Whether you are building a collection of post-war French works on paper or looking for a single statement piece with character and atmosphere, this signed-estate watercolour by Guy Nicod offers charm, authenticity, and versatile display potential.