Auguste Chabaud

Auguste Chabaud, a French painter and sculptor, was born on October 3, 1882, in Nîmes and died on May 23, 1955, in Graveson.

From a young age, he showed a passion for art. He enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in Avignon, where he studied under the guidance of Pierre Grivolas. In 1899, he moved to Paris to continue his studies, joining the studio of Fernand Cormon and attending the Jullian and Carrière academies. It was in Paris that he encountered iconic figures of the Fauvist movement, such as Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck.

Chabaud quickly made a name for himself in the Parisian art scene through his exhibitions at the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d’Automne, where he presented works marked by a simplification of drawing and a bold use of pure colors. His style, often associated with Fauvism, reflects the Parisian nightlife, populated by cabarets and marginal characters, and is characterized by vibrant shades of yellow and red, contrasting with the dark tones of the night.

In 1913, he participated in an exhibition in New York alongside Matisse, Derain, Vlaminck, and Picasso. However, World War I interrupted his career. After serving, Chabaud returned to Paris in 1919 but decided to settle permanently in Graveson, in the heart of the Alpilles, at the family estate. This region became the backdrop for his work, where he immortalized “la montagnette” and painted rural scenes filled with peasants, using a palette dominated by Prussian blue.

Chabaud is distinguished by his instinctive vision of art and claims a marginal position within the artistic landscape. He gradually became a recognized artist, with his works exhibited in renowned museums, such as the Cantini Museum in Marseille, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, and the Petit Palais in Geneva. In addition to his painting practice, Chabaud was also a writer and a sculptor.

In recognition of his legacy, a museum dedicated to him was established in Graveson in 1992, and his influence continues to be celebrated by contemporary artists.