Exploring Henri Le Sidaner — The French Painter & His Works

Henri Le Sidaner, unlike many artists of his time, had no affiliation with any of the new art trends. If he admired the impressionists a great deal, he wasn't one of them in style. From time to time, Henri Le Sidaner dabbled with dots—but he had to learn pointillism. He was not a Fauve, even when his colors were most violent.

The Early Years of Henri Le Sidaner

French post-impressionist painter Henri Le Sidaner was born to a French family in Port Louis, Mauritius, in 1862. His family emigrated to France from Mauritius when he was ten.

Like many budding artists before him, Henri Le Sidaner went to Paris to study painting. One of the most famous fine art universities in Paris, The École des Beaux-Arts, would accept Le Sidaner, where he studied under iconic artist Alexandre Cabanel to learn classical and academic painting.

One feature of the modernist innovations that Henri Le Sidaner would have noticed during the Paris years was his close and obvious association with the Parisian art scene. He was especially impressed by Eduoard Manet's work and Claude Monet's sunny reproductions of en plein air landscapes. Le Sidaner saw their avant-garde kind of art, and so he left the École des Beaux-Arts as a classical painter.

Looking for Inspiration at the Étaples Colony of Artists

In 1885, Henri Le Sidaner said goodbye to the hustle and bustle of Paris and traveled north, where he joined the artists' community in Étaples. The draw of the regional coastline and his own more peaceful way of life at one with nature caused the teenage artist to settle here. The region's beautiful landscapes inspired Le Sidaner and served as artistic models. It was the perfect place for him to try his hand at new modern art methods, such as painting outdoors with blurry brushstrokes and colored pastels.

Henri Le Sidaner stayed at the Étaples Artists' Colony until 1893. While here, he showcased his landscapes in local art shows. His artworks were successful, and in 1891, he traveled to Italy and Holland for art exhibitions.

Last Words

For many years, one of the forgotten masters in the history of art has been Henri Le Sidaner. It's true because the man was of no particular school or movement, and ironically, his name was omitted from critical dialogues. After he died, he quickly fell into obscurity.

But over the last few generations, recognition has finally come—for the true beauty and worth of Henri Le Sidaner's name and paintings. His artwork is considered so important that the highest bidders for his pieces are art galleries and museums around the globe merely to have them in public view.