Gustave Cariot

(French, 1872-1950)

Post-Impressionist painter Gustave Cariot was born in 1872 in the Marais district of Paris. His father was a luggage maker who encouraged his son to apprentice in the family business. Young Gustave, however, had artistic aspirations. Largely self-taught, he dedicated his time to sketching scenes of Paris and the surrounding countryside.

Cariot used thick impasto and vivid colors to create a sense of dimensionality, as evidenced in his primarily pastoral scenes such as Schlangenbad (1936), Laboureur à Auxy (1944) and Cour de ferme à Auxy (1944). Captivated by the ephemeral effects of light, Cariot was highly influenced by Monet’s Impressionist works, particularly his Haystacks and Rouen Cathedral series. Likewise, he painted several series of artworks showing rural scenes at different times of day and in different light. Influences of the scientific theories of Pointillism and Divisionism can also be noted in his works.

In 1909, Cariot showed his work at La Société Moderne, an exhibit established by his friend, painter Emmanuel de la Villéon. After joining the Société des Artistes Indépendants, Cariot exhibited at major exhibits throughout Paris, including the Salon Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Salon d’Automne and Salon d’Hiver. The internationally acclaimed artist died in 1950. Many of his works have since shown impressively at auction, including Floréal (1902), which sold at Sotheby's New York 2014 ‘Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale’ for USD $149,000.