André Dunoyer de Segonzac
1884-1974
Born at Boussy-Saint-Antoine, Seine-et-Oise, he enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, in 1902 but shortly left for the Académie de la Palette. This he also left in 1906 and decided to work on his own, sharing a studio with Jean-Louis Boussingault. In 1910 he exhibited Les Buveurs at the Salon d'Automne and in 1911 Vue de village at the Salon des Indépendants. Both were powerfully expressive compositions, astonishingly mature in so young an artist. During the First World War he was in a camouflage section with Dufresne, Camoin, Puy and others under his command; they were known as the 'Black Band'. He produced a series of harrowing images which can be compared to works by Nevinson in their portrayal of the harsh brutality of trench warfare. After the war his palette became both lighter and more colourful, moving from the heavy earth colours he had used before into a range which was closer to the Impressionists. He painted for preference landscapes from Provence in a style of poetic but vigorous naturalism. He also did theatre design for the Russian ballet and the dance performances of Isadora Duncan and he became known for his graphic work and illustrations. Among his outstanding works are, from the early period, Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in 1913, and from later Les Canotiers sur le marin of 1921. Best known among his illustrations are those for L'Éducation sentimentale of Flaubert and the Georgics of Virgil. He said 'One must be absolutely sincere; interpretation belongs to the realm of the Unconscious. You are lost if you find yourself interpreting what you do.'
Works Available
Stretcher-bearers, 1918