Paul Bornet. Portrait of an Actor or Dancer in Oriental Costume, 1917.

Portrait of an Actor or Dancer in Oriental Costume, 1917
Artist: Paul Bornet (Ranchot, 1878 – Paris, 1949)

Medium: Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right.
Dimensions: 61 × 50 cm (unframed).
Frame: Carved wooden frame, early 20th century.
Condition: In original condition, unrestored. Needs cleaning.

Male figure in oriental costume, wearing a headpiece adorned with a central plume and eyes accentuated with elongated makeup lines. The vivid colors and exotic atmosphere evoke a stylised, theatrical aesthetic typical of the early 20th century.
The work reflects the cultural climate of Paris in 1917, deeply influenced by the Ballets Russes, whose visual language and stage presence left a lasting mark on the art, fashion, and imagination of the time.

Provenance: Collection of Henri Cain (1857–1930).