Aristide Maillol (French, 1861–1944) was born in 1861 in a small fishing village in the French Pyrenees. He studied at the École des beaux-arts in Paris beginning in 1885, then in 1889 he became influenced by his contemporary Paul Gauguin who encouraged a more Impressionistic approach. Maillol joined the Nabis group and exhibited with them in 1895 and 1896, then the Salon des Beaux-Arts and the gallery of Ambroise Vollard in Paris. He opened a workshop in his hometown in 1894. Maillol’s eyesight declined significantly in his 30s which influenced his decision to work as a sculptor. He died in 1944 in an automobile accident. Major retrospectives of his work have been shown internationally, including at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Guggenheim Museum; Haus der Kunst, Munich; and Kunsthaus Zürich.
Maillol is known for his stylized drawings and sculptures of women. He created works in many mediums, including woodcuts, tapestries, and bronze sculpture. His work is considered a return to a focus on form and simplicity, avoiding excessive detail to emphasize the essential.
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2 works
