Jean Helleu, French Semi Abstract Expressionist Color Field Impasto Oil Painting Jean Helleu, c.1950's

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Jean Helleu (French, 1894-1985)
A painter, watercolorist and designer born in Paris, France.
The son of Paul-César Helleu.
(a French … Read more Jean Helleu (French, 1894-1985)
A painter, watercolorist and designer born in Paris, France.
The son of Paul-César Helleu.
(a French oil painter, pastel artist, drypoint etcher, and designer, best known for his numerous portraits of beautiful society women of the Belle Époque. He conceived the ceiling mural of night sky constellations for Grand Central Terminal in New York City. He studied with Jean-Leon Gerome and was friends with John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, and Claude Monet.) Jean shared with his father a love of the sea and sailing. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Grande Chaumière. (Kurt Seligmann, Yolande Ardissone, Balthus, Jacques Bouyssou, Gabriel Dauchot, Étienne Hajdu, Jean Helleu, Claude Lazar, Marie-Lucie Nessi-Valtat, Paul Rebeyrolle all studied there around that time) His first exhibition took place in 1922 at the Galerie A. Decour Though the Impressionist influence is evident, Jean Helleu especially admired the work of Dutch artist Johan Barthold Jongkind. There followed exhibitions at the Galerie E. Druet (March to April 1926), the Galerie Jean Charpentier (February 1929), the Galerie Peltier (November 1943) and at the Musée de la Marine in 1949. Jean Helleu was appointed the official painter of the French Navy in 1946 and received with this title several commissions from the French State.
Critical reception in L’Intransigeant:
“Helleu's son continues the teaching of Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro, without seeking to imitate his favorite masters, but also without diminishing the influence they have on him. He holds the torch that the elders gave him”
He did commercial graphic work for noted brands and worked on bottles and packaging for the brands Coty, Bourjois and Chanel. He signs his painted works “Helleu-Guérin”, “Jean Helleu” or “J. Helleu”.
He served as artistic director at the famed fashion house of Chanel as did his son Jacque Helleu. Under their direction Chanel had a long history of cinematic and fantasy-themed advertising, counting Catherine Deneuve, Ali MacGraw, Candice Bergen, Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman and most recently Keira Knightley among its celebrity pitchwomen. Filmmakers and photographers immortalizing Chanel fragrances in commercials include Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Jean-Paul Goude, Baz Luhrmann, Luc Besson and Ridley Scott. See less