Henri Goetz

Henri Goetz was born on September 29, 1909, in New York City but because of his grandfather who moved to the U.S.A. from Alsace, France around 1850, Henri had a dual citizenship which allowed him to enjoy both cultures.

Goetz began his studies in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. However, a growing passion for painting led him to switch career and devote himself to art. He developed his artistic talents at the Grand Central School of Art in New York.

In 1930, he moved to Paris. He attended the academies of Montparnasse and met Christine Boumeester, an artist who would play a pivotal role in his artistic journey. They married in 1934.

At the beginning of his career, Goetz focused on portraiture, seeking to capture the essence of his subjects. Later, influenced by the Parisian avant-garde, his work evolved towards abstraction. In 1936, he abandoned figuration to adopt a surrealist style, inspired by artists such as Salvador Dalí and André Breton. His series “Corrected Masterpieces,” which combines painting and reproductions of classical works, illustrates his quest for innovation and his dialogue with the history of art.

During World War II, Goetz and his wife became involved in the Resistance and in 1939, Goetz and Christian Dotremont and Raoul Ubac, created “La Main a Plume”, the first surrealist paper under the Occupation.

He and Christine took refuge in Nice, mingling with other artists like Francis Picabia and Nicolas de Staël. This period of clandestinity and intense creation left an indelible mark on his work.

After the war, Goetz returned to Paris and deepened his exploration of abstraction. He introduced the carborundum printmaking technique, an innovative method that he developed and taught, thereby marking the history of printmaking. From 1947 to 1960, his work took on a lyrical dimension, characterized by compositions rich in color and texture.

The death of his wife in 1971 plunged Goetz into profound solitude, which prompted him to intensify his artistic production. He continued to evolve until his final days, exploring themes related to nature and the universe. Henri Goetz passed away on August 12, 1989, in Nice, bringing an end to a life entirely dedicated to creation.