Biography of Jacques Villon
Jacques Villon, real name Gaston Émile Duchamp, is a French painter, draftsman and engraver born on July 31, 1875 in Damville (Eure) and died on June 9, 1963 in Puteaux (Hauts-de-Seine). He is the older brother of the sculptor Raymond Duchamp-Villon, the painter and sculptor Marcel Duchamp, and the painter Suzanne Duchamp. Jacques Villon is known for his major role in the development of Cubism and for his innovations in the field of engraving.
Born into an artistic and wealthy family, he was influenced from a young age by his maternal grandfather, Émile Frédéric Nicolle, an amateur artist. After completing secondary studies at the Lycée Corneille in Rouen, Villon continued his studies in law at the University of Paris while developing an interest in art. He adopted the pseudonym Jacques Villon in 1895 to launch himself into humorous drawing and press illustration.
In 1903, he helped organize the drawing section of the first Salon d'Automne in Paris and began exhibiting his works. Influenced by Edgar Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, he evolved towards Fauvism and Cubism. In 1911, he founded, with his brothers, the Puteaux group, which would play a key role in the development of Cubism, notably with the "Section d'Or" exhibition in 1912.
Read more
Mobilized during the First World War, Villon fought on the Champagne and Artois fronts, then worked in the camouflage department. After the war, he devoted himself to the study of scientific theories on color and movement, integrating these concepts into his work. His fame grew in the 1930s, particularly in the United States, and he joined the Abstraction-Création group in 1932.
In 1944, Villon received increased recognition through an exhibition organized by the Louis Carré gallery. He received several important awards, including the Carnegie Prize in 1950 and the Grand Prize at the Venice Biennale in 1956. His last years were marked by international exhibitions and commissions, notably for stained glass windows for Metz Cathedral.
Jacques Villon died on June 9, 1963 in Puteaux. His work, marked by a thorough exploration of Cubism and printmaking, remains influential in the history of modern art. His role in the development of Cubism and his contributions to printmaking are widely recognized, and his legacy is celebrated for its artistic integrity and innovation.
