Pierre Laprade occupies a place somewhat apart on the Parisian art scene of his time. A native of Provence, born in Narbonne to a family of magistrates who were open to art, and a friend of the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929), he trained in Parisian studios and at the Académie Carrière. Above all, he admired Édouard Manet (1832-1883), but also looked up to Velázquez (1599-1660) and Goya (1746-1828). He had his first exhibition at a very young age at Ambroise Vollard’s gallery, in May 1903, and then began showing his work regularly at the Galerie Druet, while at the same time sending works to the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d’Automne. 

A friend of Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) and Édouard Vuillard (1868-1940), and with an affinity to the Fauves, he soon distinguished himself for the intimate character of his subjects, his supple and sensual technique, and the subtlety of his palette. His fame was already established as early as 1914. Le Couple d’Amoureux is absolutely characteristic of this style of painting, full of restraint and tenderness, which extended the teachings of Impressionism into the 20th century. Undated, it was probably painted before 1914, even though Laprade’s method of execution and choice of subject varied very little throughout his career. He was also known for his work as an illustrator and for having painted stage sets for the theatre.