Chabaud works on display in Lausanne

An exhibition of works by the French artist, Auguste Chabaud, has opened in Lausanne. Chabaud was born in 1882 in the rural Provence region but lived and worked mainly in Paris. His works highlight the tensions between city and country.

An exhibition of works by the French artist, Auguste Chabaud, has opened in Lausanne. Chabaud was born in 1882 in the rural Provence region but lived and worked mainly in Paris. His works highlight the tensions between city and country.

Chabaud is considered one of the leading representatives of Fauvism, an artistic movement related to Expressionism, which originated in Paris in the early 20th century.

Chabaud’s move to Paris as a young artist had a deep influence on his work. The seedy side of life in the French capital fascinated him, and many of his works feature busy streets, the city’s nightlife and brothels, painted in quick brush strokes.

But despite the fascination with city life, Chabaud maintained strong ties with the Provence. For several years he commuted between Paris and Avignon, before definitively turning his back on the capital after the First World War.

After returning to the south of France, Chabaud’s art focused on painting the region and its countryside, which he represented in simple forms and an increasingly limited range of colours. He died in 1955

The Chabaud retrospective at the Fondation de l’Hermitage runs until May 28. It includes about 100 of his paintings and 50 drawings.

From staff and wire reports