Paul Sérusier (1864-1927) was a noted French painter who played a pivotal role in the Nabis movement and the evolution of post-impressionist art. Sérusier’s influence is particularly evident in the Symbolist and Synthetist styles of painting that characterized the latter part of the 19th century.
Born in Paris, Sérusier’s artistic trajectory was shaped early on by his encounter with Paul Gauguin in Pont-Aven in 1888. Under Gauguin’s guidance, he painted the now-iconic work “The Talisman,” which is seen as a touchstone of the Nabis movement. This painting, with its bold colors and abstracted nature, encapsulated the Synthetist ideals of evoking emotion through color and form without an overt reliance on realism.
The Nabis, which included artists like Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard, were greatly influenced by Sérusier’s connection to Gauguin and his promotion of a more symbolic and abstracted approach to painting. Sérusier’s works, often characterized by a spiritual or mystical quality, aimed to go beyond the mere representation of the physical world to capture its essence.
Inspiration for Sérusier came from various sources, including Japanese woodblock prints, medieval stained glass, and the Symbolist poetry of his contemporaries. Artists who shared a stylistic kinship with Sérusier include Maurice Denis and Gauguin, with their emphasis on flat planes of color, abstraction, and symbolic content.
As Sérusier’s career progressed, he delved deeper into theories of color and form, blending his artistic endeavors with a deepening spiritual quest, which remained a guiding force throughout his life.
Useful Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Sérusier
https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-serusier
