Collection: Georges Rouault

Georges Rouault, born in Paris on May 27, 1871, became a French painter, printmaker, and ceramicist. At 14, he began an apprenticeship in a glass factory, learning glass repair and painting. He later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1891 under Gustave Moreau and was a co-founder of the Salon d’Automne in 1903. His early work is often associated with Fauvism and Expressionism.

Rouault drew inspiration from French medieval masters, uniting religious and secular traditions in his art. He became a significant representative of modern religious painting, often using strong colors and expressing themes of social commentary. His works, such as The Three Judges (1928) and Christ on the Cross (1936), reflect his aversion to hypocrisy, poverty, and sin.

Rouault's work is generally counted among the artists of the École de Paris and he was associated with the Renouveau catholique movement. Late in his life, he burned 300 of his unfinished works.