Large oil on canvas painting of the renown French guinguette  'Chez Gegene'. Established in 1918, Joinville-le Pont, East of Paris. Saint-Alban [b.1913-d.2015]

Guinguettes are outdoor restaurants featuring small dance venues (nicknamed after a popular, cheap white wine called Guinguet) that originally sprung up on the outskirts of Paris during the 18^th century by rivers, lakes, etc. High taxes in the capital pushed Parisians to seek pleasure outside the city walls, and guinguettes have remained popular ever since. These open-air establishements remain a traditional seasonal draw for patrons to enjoy festive and convivial atmospheres.

This evocative painting has wonderful detail and one continually finds more to discover with each look.

Inscribed 'Chez Gegene' and signed by the artist, Saint -Alban, to the lower right.

About the Artist: Michel Roy known as Michel Saint Alban is a French artist born in 1913 and died in May 2015 at the age of 101.
A painter and sculptor, he is best known for his landscapes of France, but also of Africa and the Seychelles.
Numerous exhibits including:
- Carlton gallery in Cannes in 1797,1973,1974.
- the Contemporary Arts Gallery in Monté-Carlo in 1975.
- the Vendôme gallery in Paris in 1988.
- Galerie Alexandre in Paris in 1992
- Hôtel le Méridien Montparnasse in 1990, 1993, 1994 1995.
- Galerie Héraud in Paris in 1997.
- Galerie Popof in Paris in 1998.