Lewis SMITH [American] (1907-1998) Sparkle Ink and pastel on brown double-sided grocery bag paper. Unsigned. 42.5 x 29.5 cm Provenance : Collection Jean-Jacques Plaisance, Galerie Les Yeux Fertiles, Paris. Born in 1907 in the U.S. state of Ohio, Lewis Smith began drawing in 1920. The son of a railroad employee, he was given a pass that allowed him to travel the country free of charge. These journeys fed his imagination and became the raw material for his work. His drawings, produced mainly in graphite and colored pencil on recycled materials - paper bags, cookie tins - often feature souvenirs of his travels. He pays particular attention to athletic, muscular female figures, inspired by the sporting competitions he observes with fascination.