Fine Arts
Charles Camoin
(Marseille 1879 - Paris 1965)
Charles Camoin loses his father at an early age. It is thus his
mother who enrolls him at the Beaux-Arts de Paris where he establishes
an undying friendship with Henri Matisse and Alber Marquet.
Charles Camoin spends his childhood between Paris, Nice, Cannes,
Marseilles, southern towns which exert an irresistible attraction
on him. During his military service, for which he's transferred
to Aix-en-Provence, the young man provokes a meeting with Cezanne,
with whom he will correspond actively up until the latter's death.
Beginning in 1903, Charles Camoin exhibits at the Independent's
then at the Fall Salon, namely at the 1905 Salon where "Fauvism"
breaks out. Quickly recognized, Charles Camoin abandons fauvism
in favor of a more gentle painting and avoids the major intellectual
and artistic movements of his time such as Dadaism and Cubism.
Following the rupture caused by the First World War and after his
marriage in 1920, Charles Camoin divides his time between Paris
and Saint-Tropez, whose port he loves to paint, simplifying the
contours and playing with light. Charles Camoin dies in Paris at
the age of 86 but he is buried under his native skies in Marseilles.
Charles CAMOIN
The Port of Saint-Tropez, or Cargo at
Saint-Tropez
Oil on Canvas
H. 80,5 cm (31 3/4 in.)
L. 122,5 cm (48 1/4 in.)
National Museum of Modern Art Deposit, Paris.
Dividing his time between Paris and Provence, namely Saint-Tropez,
Charles Camoin paints not only portraits but also views, bouquets,
and countless marine landscapes. Nobody could define his interests
better than the painter himself. "I still consider myself a Fauve.
there are two kinds of colors, real ones and superficial ones. You
have to choose. I think you must deal with the real ones and it's
what I've done since the outset".