Jean Jacques Gustave Dufy was born in Le Havre, at 15 rue de l'Espérance, on March 12, 1888, and died on May 12, 1964, in Boussay. A French painter, he is known for his works influenced by the techniques of his brother Raoul Dufy and his involvement in important decorative projects.
The seventh of eleven children of Léon Marius Dufy, an accountant and amateur musician, and Marie Eugénie Ida Lemonnier, Jean Dufy studied at the Collège Saint-Joseph in Le Havre. He worked in an import house, then became a secretary on an ocean liner.SavoyAfter his military service, he moved to Paris, where he met André Derain, Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso.
He exhibited his first watercolors in 1914 at the Berthe Weill Gallery. Mobilized during the First World War, he continued to paint landscapes and scenes of daily life. After the war, he engaged in various artistic projects, including creating models for Théodore Haviland porcelain, which earned him a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925.
Jean Dufy exhibited his works in Paris, notably at the Salon d'Automne, and in New York. In 1937, he collaborated with his brother Raoul on the monumental frescoThe Electricity Fairyfor the electricity pavilion at the Universal Exhibition. His last years were spent in Limousin and Touraine, where he found inspiration in the landscapes and village scenes. His travels in Europe and North Africa further enriched his work.
Jean Dufy died on May 12, 1964, in Boussay, two months after his wife Ismérie, leaving an artistic legacy marked by his distinctive works and influential collaborations. His creations are featured in prestigious collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
