Léo Gausson

Léo Gausson (14 February 1860 – 27 October 1944) was a French landscape painter in the Neo-impressionist and Synthetic styles. He was also a printmaker and sculptor.

Biography

He was born in Lagny-sur-Marne. He began his art education by taking evening classes, mostly devoted to sculpture, at the " National School of Decorative Arts". When he first turned to painting, he found his inspiration in the Barbizon School, to which he was introduced by , a local artist, originally from Spain, who had studied with Constant Troyon. Later, he became acquainted with the xylographers Maximilien Luce and Émile-Gustave Cavallo-Péduzzi, after which he produced posters from lithographs and woodcuts.

In 1885, he considered his artistic development to be complete, as reflected in a lengthy letter to Émile Zola, with whom he had long corresponded. He also made an extended stay in Brittany. In June 1890, Gausson was mentioned in a letter from Theo van Gogh to his brother Vincent
"Vincent Van Gogh: The Letters"]. Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam. Retrieved August 24, 2020. in connection with a proposed exchange of paintings, which was completed after Vincent's death.

Ever desiring something new, Gausson slowly turned to Synthetism and, from 1889 to 1894, simplified his paintings and brightened his colors. During that period, he participated in avant-garde exhibitions; notably with "Les XX" in Brussels, the association "" in Antwerp and in Paris at Le Barc de Boutteville and the "Salon des Cent". Some of his poster designs were reproduced in the magazine ''Les Maîtres de l'Affiche''.

He also had a connection with the Symbolist movement; corresponding with several noted writers. Later, he would provide illustrations for works by the poet, , and Gustave Kahn provided commentary for the catalog of Gausson's 1896 exhibition at the Galerie Laffitte. Gausson himself wrote a book of short stories, ''Histoires vertigineuses'' (Giddy Stories), but it was not very successful. In 1900, he was named an officer of the Académie des Beaux-Arts for his work on a monument to the builder, at Fontainebleau.

Despite his successes, he continued to have financial difficulties. In an effort to alleviate them, he took a position with the French Colonial Administration and was posted to Guinea in 1901, where he spent eight years.

Upon returning to France, he settled in Paris. Having no children, he often visited his nephew, who had a small shop in Lagny-sur-Marne. He was there when the German Army occupied Paris in 1940, and remained until his death.Archives of Paris (5th Arrondissement)
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Selected paintings

File:L333 - Léo Gausson - Les arbres du quai de la Gourdine à Lagny.jpg, Trees on the Banks of the Quai de la Gourdine
File:L334 - Léo Gausson - sous bois.JPG, Undergrowth
File:L336 - Léo Gausson - Les toits pointillés.JPG, The Roofs
File:L0577 - Léo Gausson - Le hangar couvert de Chaume à Gouvernes.jpg, Hangar with a Thatched Roof
File:Gausson-selfportrait2.jpg, A later self-portrait

References

External links

Le site de Léo GAUSSON

More works by Gausson
@ ArtNet

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gausson, Leo
1860 births
1944 deaths
19th-century French painters
French landscape painters
French poster artists
People from Lagny-sur-Marne
Pointillism
20th-century French painters