(b Fontenay-aux-Roses, nr. Paris, 3 Oct. 1867; d Le Cannet, nr. Cannes, 23 Jan. 1947). French painter, lithographer, and designer. His father, an official in the War Ministry, insisted that he study law, but from 1888 he also attended classes at the École des Beaux-Arts and at the Académie Julian, where he met several young artists (including his lifelong friend Vuillard), who formed the Nabis. After doing military service, 1889–90, he abandoned law and became a full-time artist; his first one-man exhibition was at Durand-Ruel's gallery in 1896. At this time, as well as painting, he was producing posters and coloured lithographs, and designing for the stage: he worked on the original production of Alfred Jarry's Ubu-Roi (1896), considered the first work of the Theatre of the Absurd.

Text source: The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford University Press)


Do you know someone who would love this resource?
Tell them about it...