Louis Marcoussis facts for kids
Louis Marcoussis (born Ludwik Markus) was a famous painter and engraver. He was born in Łódź, Poland, around 1878 or 1883. He spent most of his life in Paris, France, and later became a French citizen. He passed away on October 22, 1941, in Cusset, France.
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Early Life of Louis Marcoussis
Louis Marcoussis first studied law in Warsaw, Poland. But he soon realized his passion was art. He then went to the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts. There, he learned from talented teachers like Jan Stanislawski.
In 1903, he moved to Paris, France. He briefly attended the Académie Julian art school. To support himself, he drew cartoons for magazines. He also did other drawing and illustration work.
While in Paris, he met many famous artists and writers. He spent time in cafés in Montmartre and Montparnasse. Some of his friends included Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. It was the writer Guillaume Apollinaire who suggested his new French name, Marcoussis. This name came from a village near Paris.
Cubist Art Period
Early in his career, Marcoussis was influenced by Impressionism. But around 1911, he joined the Cubist art movement. Cubism is a style where artists break objects into geometric shapes. They show different angles of an object at the same time.
He worked alongside other famous Cubist painters. These included Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Juan Gris. His art was shown in many cities across Europe and in the United States. In 1925, he had his first solo art show in Paris.
Marcoussis painted many types of Cubist art. He often painted still lifes and musical instruments. He also created portraits and scenes of Paris. Some of his works showed the beautiful seaside of Brittany.
In 1913, he married Alice Halicka, who was also a painter. Their daughter, Malène, was born in 1922. Marcoussis served in the French army from 1914 to 1919. He became a French citizen but stayed connected to Poland. Today, he is often known as a Jewish artist.
Later Life and Art
From 1930 onwards, Marcoussis focused more on printmaking. He also created illustrations for books. He worked on projects inspired by famous writers. These included Apollinaire, Tristan Tzara, and Paul Éluard.
In the late 1930s, Marcoussis taught etching techniques. He even taught the famous Spanish artist Joan Miró. Their collaboration led to Miró's "Black and Red Series." These artworks are now in the Museum of Modern Art. Marcoussis also taught at the Académie Schlaefer.
When Nazi troops arrived in Paris in 1940, Marcoussis and Alice moved. They went to Cusset, a town near Vichy. Louis Marcoussis passed away there on October 22, 1941.
Images for kids
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Le bar du port. Signed, inscribed and dated Marcoussis Banyuls 1913. Oil on canvas, 80.8 x 65 cm
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Violon, bouteilles de Marc et cartes (Violin, Marc bottles and cards). Signed and dated Marcoussis 1919. Gouache and watercolor over charcoal on paper, 45.8 x 24.5 cm
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Personnage écrivant. Signed Marcoussis. Oil and charcoal on canvas, 22 x 16.5 cm
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Poire verte et couteau (Green pear and knife). Signed Marcoussis. Oil on glass, 36.2 x 26 cm
See also
In Spanish: Louis Marcoussis para niños
