Artists

Maximilien Luce

French, 1858-1941

Considered one of the most important Post Impressionists, Luce was born to working class parents in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He began his career as a commercial engraver at the age of fourteen, which he continued until 1877 when he took a trip to England. He returned the following year to do his military service and on completion returned to the city of his birth.

Revolutionary in both his art and his politics, Maximilien Luce was a familiar figure in the popular cafes of late 19th century Paris. Luce studied under Carolus-Duran and then perfected his drawing skills at the Ecole de dessin des Gobelins. But by far, the most influential of Luce's mentors was Camille Pissarro. Pissarro not only taught Luce the techniques of landscape painting but also shared with the budding artist his love of nature and his sincere friendship. The versatile Luce, like many of his contemporaries, experimented with several of the modern painting techniques and schools developing in France throughout his career.

Luce's affiliation with Pissarro led to a shared fascination with the Divisionist technique and the scientific analyses of Georges Seurat. Along with Seurat, by 1887 Luce was exhibiting at the Salon des Independants with Neo-Impressionist paintings and founded l'Ecole des Neo-Impressionistes with Paul Signac. Luce also preferred the depiction of the everyday life of the working class rather than the elegant bourgeoisie. At the turn of the century, Luce grew weary of Pointillism and reverted back to the Impressionist style. In addition, he was influenced of the newly debuted Fauves, yet another growing artistic movement headed by Henri Matisse whereby non-naturalistic colors were used to evoke emotional response.

Luce created an oeuvre of astounding diversity that reflects this period of stylistic variety. He died in Paris in 1941.

Museum Collections include:

Museum D'Orsay, Paris; National Gallery, Oslo; Museum of the Annunciation, Saint-Tropez; Kroller-Muller National Museum, Netherlands; Goteburg Art Gallery, Goteburg, Sweden; Phoenix Art Museum, AZ; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN; Petit Palais, Geneva; National Museum of Modern Art, Paris

Literature:

Maximillien Luce, Catalogue de l'oeuvre peint - tome III, par Denise Bazetoux, no. 291.