Pierre-Eugène Montézin (1874-1946) - Leaving the village

Dimensions : H. 47 cm x W. 56 cm (with frame: H. 66 x W. 75 cm)

Born in Paris in 1874, Pierre-Eugène Montézin was a self-taught artist. A true nature lover, his keen sense of observation made him a great landscape painter. As modest as he is talented, Pierre-Eugène Montézin is a passionate painter. His brushstrokes are free, linear and lively, and he uses vivid tones, in particular the powerful yellows that characterize his work. In his highly recognizable compositions, the rapid gesture is palpable: the trees, figures and animals are just sketched, yet plunge us with great veracity into life at the beginning of the 20th century.  

At the age of 19, Montezin decided to submit his work to the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris, but his art did not meet the expectations of the time. The Salon refused to accept his work for ten years. The artist did not give up, and by dint of tenacity and perseverance, the Salon opened its doors to him in 1903. In 1907, he was awarded a 3rd class medal, and in 1910 a gold medal.

The artist enlisted in the army in 1914 and went to fight at the front. Awarded the Military Medal, he continued to paint during the conflict.  From 1919, he devoted himself fully to his art and began to make a living from it. In 1920, Montézin was awarded the Prix Rosa Bonheur. In 1922, the famous Georges Petit gallery held an exhibition of his work in Paris. Between town and country, Montézin worked in the Paris region, where he lived, and in Moret sur Loing, where he had a country house.

Montézin achieved considerable recognition during his lifetime. Awarded an honorary medal by the Salon des Artistes Français in 1932, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and President of the Jury des Artistes Français in 1933, the artist exhibited 237 paintings at Galerie Charpentier that same year. From 1934 onwards, Montézin travelled extensively, notably to Brittany and Venice. In 1938, his exhibition at the Galerie Durand-Ruel was his crowning achievement. In 1941, Montézin was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts as a member of the Institut de France, in Edouard Vuillard's chair. In 1946, the artist at the height of his fame modestly left for Brittany to indulge his passion. He cycled to Moëlan-sur-Mer to paint on the motif; he died at the age of 72, his canvases and box of paints hanging on his back.

Museums :

Paris, Petit Palais / Paris, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville / Dijon, Musée des Beaux-Arts / Lille, Musée des Beaux-Arts / Lille, Petit Palais / Roubaix, Musée d'Art et d'Industrie / Rouen, Hôtel de Ville ....

Our painting is a very attractive work by this endearing artist. With great simplicity, Montézin shows us the exit of a village with a couple of characters and a horse-drawn carriage. The composition is very pleasing, with the row of trees to the right opening up to the houses and the distance. The painting exudes happiness and tranquility.