Maximilien Luce
(Paris 1858 – 1941)
Rouen, Pont de Pierre
Signed l.r.
Titled on the reverse
Oil on cardboard, 13.9 x 18.1 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, The Netherlands
N.B.:
Maximilien Luce is seen as one of the founders of Neo-Impressionism. His paintings often depict cityscapes, with the working classes taking pride of place. Initially the artist was trained as a wood engraver at the École des Art Décoratifs in Paris, where he made friends with Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Georges Seurat (1859-1891) and Paul Signac (1863-1935). Pissarro introduced Luce to his cultural circle of friends due to their mutual anarchistic opinions, on account of which both were temporarily incarcerated. While in Paris Luce became fascinated by Seurat, who’s work was based on a scientific study on light and its prismatic effect. Maximilien experimented with this scientific Impressionism, which resulted in Pointillism, with which he achieved international fame.