Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu
by Honoré de Balzacliterary work· published 1831
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"Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu" (English: "The Unknown Masterpiece") is a short story by Honoré de Balzac. It was first published in the newspaper L'Artiste with the title "Maître Frenhofer" (English: "Master Frenhofer") in August 1831. It appeared again later in the same year under the title "Catherine Lescault, conte fantastique". It was published in Balzac's Études philosophiques in 1837 and was integrated into La Comédie humaine in 1846. The work is separated into two chapters: "Gillette" and "Catherine Lescault". "Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu" is a reflection on art, and has had an important influence on modernist artists.
Adaptations (1)
Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu was adapted into a 1991 film.
La Belle Noiseuse1991 · film · 238 min · dir. Jacques Rivette · IMDb ↗IMDb7.5100%The former famous painter Frenhofer lives quietly with his wife on a countryside residence in the French Provence. When the young artist Nicolas visits him with his girlfriend Marianne, Frenhofer decides to start again the work on a painting he long ago stopped: La Belle Noiseuse. And he wants Marianne as model.
