Maximilien Luce

The neo-Impressionist Maximilian Luce initially served an apprenticeship as a woodcarver, but also took private painting lessons in his spare time. in 1876 he started to work as a woodcarver for the painter Eugène Froment and continued his education as a painter at the Académie Suisse. In 1882 he devoted himself entirely to painting. His friends included Paul Signac, George Seurat, Camille Pissarro and Théo van Rysselberghe. Having joined the Société des Artistes Indépendants, Luce took part in its exhibition for the first time in 1887. In 1899 a major solo exhibition was held for him by Galerie Durand-Ruel. Whereas he initially painted entirely in a Pointillist manner, he eventually developed a more casual, Impressionist style. Thematically, he concentrated on landscapes, city views and portraits.