Charles Camoin

(French, 1879-1965)

Recognized as one of the original members of Fauvism, French painter Charles Camoin is also widely celebrated for his contributions across Impressionism and Expressionism. A spontaneous painter who enjoyed pure color, feathery brushstrokes and the interplay of light and atmosphere, Camoin’s paintings convey a thoughtful aesthetic that departs from the vivid colors of Fauvism to span multiple genres.

Born the son of a paint manufacturer in Marseille, France on September 23, 1879, Camoin’s interest in painting was encouraged from early childhood. By age 19, he was studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the studio of Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. It was there that he met Fauve artists André Derain and Henri Matisse.

Camoin never truly considered himself a Fauvist. He was soon influenced by Impressionism as a whole and by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in particular. Camoin became entranced with plein air painting, favoring provincial French landscapes in his efforts to capture fleeting moments of light and color. In addition to Impressionist and Fauvist works, Camoin also produced a number of Expressionist works, still life paintings, nudes, landscapes and interiors.

Camoin married Charlotte Prost in 1920. After their first daughter Anne-Marie was born in 1933, he divided his time between Paris and St. Tropez. Camoin and Matisse remained lifelong friends, frequently traveling to the south of France to paint the endless stretch of winding Mediterranean coastline, charming seaside towns and luxurious resorts. His portrait of Matisse hangs in the permanent collection of the Pompidou Museum in Paris.

In recognition for his contributions to the history of modern art, Camoin was awarded the Prix du Président de la République in 1955, and was bestowed with the title Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1959. His works are featured in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice, the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Dallas Museum of Art, and many regional museums. Camoin was the last survivor of Moreau’s studio when he died in Paris, France on May 20, 1965.