Kees van Dongen, Portrait of Paul Guillaume

The Dutch painter Kees van Dongen and Paul Guillaume shared a friendship that went back many years; Guillaume had even organized a solo exhibition for the then-unknown Van Dongen. Twelve years later, Guillaume had become a successful art dealer and Van Dongen a celebrated portraitist, and this portrait was made to commemorate their long friendship.

The red ribbon on the lapel of Guillaume's suit marks the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest order, awarded to him for his contributions through the art magazine he published. The portrait appears to have been commissioned to mark that honor.

Van Dongen painted it in grays and blues, unifying Guillaume's suit, bow tie, and even the color of his eyes in blue tones for a refined, elegant effect. The background is gray, but the area around his head is rendered brighter, drawing attention to his face.