Powerful Large Still Life Of a Baker's Table By Pierre Jouffroy - 46½" x 37½"

A striking large oil on canvas by Pierre Jouffroy, this still life entitled Le sac de farine (The Bag of Flour) depicts the quiet rhythm of a baker’s worktable, rendered with strength and realism. Painted in a restrained, almost monochromatic palette of linen, umber, gray, and charcoal, the composition relies on bold contrasts of light and shadow to give the objects a powerful presence. A stoneware jug, tin lantern, wooden spoon, flour-dusted board, and folded sack introduce a distinctly rustic note, grounding the scene in the world of the traditional kitchen and the craftsman’s daily labor. Strong chiaroscuro sculpts each form, casting long shadows from the hanging ladle and iron utensil across the pale wall and reinforcing the work’s sense of order and stillness. The work is signed P. Jouffroy at the lower right and presented in a wide, softly weathered gray frame with an off-white liner.

Pierre Jouffroy (1912–2000) showed early promise, exhibiting in Paris by 1931. During the 1940s, he received significant recognition, including silver and gold medals at the Salon des Artistes Français and the critics’ prize for still life, a genre in which he became a noted master. His works entered several public collections, and he is remembered for luminous realist interiors and still lifes that balance clarity of form with a contemplative mood.

Generously scaled, this canvas lends a serene and grounded presence to a kitchen, dining room, or butler’s pantry. It pairs beautifully with stoneware, copper, and natural linens, and can anchor a console or sideboard where its measured light and shadow can be fully appreciated. In a modern setting, the restrained palette and singular red accent introduce a calm sophistication, bringing a sense of craft, ritual, and warmth to the space.

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 46½" high x 37½" wide x 1½" thick
Approx. overall 118cm high x 95cm wide x 4cm thick