Elisée Maclet

Maclet distinguished himself from other painters by moving away from traditional Impressionism. He adopted a style closer to what would become the School of Paris. After starting with watercolor, he shifted to oil painting around 1909, employing both brush and palette knife—a technique that was relatively uncommon at the time—demonstrating considerable talent in it. During this period, he befriended artists such as Maurice Utrillo, Max Jacob, and Georges Tiret-Bognet, and frequented notable figures like Picasso and Apollinaire at the cabaret Le Lapin Agile, a venue often depicted in his works. His works of Montmartre and flower bouquets became increasingly colorful, attracting the attention of merchants and collectors.

Upon returning to Paris, Maclet met Baron von Frey, an Austrian industrialist, in 1923, who became his patron and encouraged him to explore the landscapes of the Midi and southern France. Consequently, the artist traveled between southern France, Corsica, and Brittany from 1924 to 1930. The paintings from this period are vibrant and colorful. His patron, von Frey, helped disseminate his works among prestigious collectors, leading to international recognition for the artist. He was exhibited in museums across Europe and the United States. However, the economic crisis forced Maclet to break his contract with von Frey, leading to a difficult period.