Jacques Duthoo

Born on February 19, 1910, in Tours, Jacques Duthoo grew up in France. He was the youngest child of Arthur Duthoo and Germaine Delaleu. He began to seriously explore the world of art at the age of 33, in 1943.

Duthoo’s work stands out for its early orientation towards abstraction, a bold choice in a context where figurative art still reigns supreme. His first exhibition, in 1946, at the Salon des Surindépendants in Paris, allowed him to share the stage with the talented Serge Poliakoff. He exhibited in iconic venues such as the Galerie Denise René and the Salon de Mai, where he showcased his creations for nearly a decade.

Duthoo devoted himself to the exploration of abstract expressionism, a movement that offered him the freedom to express his emotions and vision of the world. Over the years, he developed an aesthetic characterized by serene and balanced forms, often enhanced by subtle brown tones. The emotional impact of his paintings invites viewers on an introspective journey, a return to buried memories.

Throughout his career, Duthoo forged friendships with major figures of his time, such as André Bauchant, Max Ernst, and Georges Rouault, with whom he exchanged ideas during the tumultuous war years. These relationships enriched his work, bringing a diversity of perspectives and influences. In 1957, the Museum of Fine Arts of the Canton of Vaud acquired one of his works, symbolizing international recognition of his talent.

His last exhibition during his lifetime, in 1959 at the Galerie Ariel in Paris, attests to the importance of his artistic journey. Two years later, in 1961, the Museum of Tours organized a retrospective of his work, followed by another in 1965 at the Galerie Ariel. These events highlight Duthoo’s place in the French artistic landscape, even though his career was tragically cut short by his death on March 13, 1960, in Paris, at the age of 50.