CURATOR'S TIP: An exceptional work on paper from Jan Zrzavý's French period. The motif of Île de Bréhat belongs among the most characteristic and highly sought-after subjects in the artist's oeuvre. The work also comes from the same French provenance as other important pieces presented in this auction. This intimate composition depicts the landscape of Île de Bréhat on the northern coast of Brittany, a place to which Jan Zrzavý repeatedly returned throughout his artistic career. Stone houses, a lighthouse and the coastal landscape are transformed into a timeless and dreamlike vision through the artist's highly distinctive simplification of forms. The mixed media technique combines delicate drawing with subtle pastel accents. Soft shades of grey, blue and pink create the characteristic poetic and melancholic atmosphere associated with Zrzavý's Breton works. The composition radiates calmness, harmony and spiritual depth. The work is signed "Jan Zrzavý 48" and dated 1948. It is additionally inscribed with the location title "Île de Bréhat". The artwork comes from a private collection sharing the same provenance as works by Josef Šíma and other artists presented in this collection. It was acquired from a gallery in France and will be accompanied by its acquisition documentation. Presented in its original French frame and under glass, this work represents an attractive collector's example of Zrzavý's celebrated French period and combines strong provenance, an iconic subject and refined artistic quality.