Yvonne Canu
French artist Yvonne Canu was transfixed by Pointillism, a technique that was pioneered in the 19th century by Georges Seurat, and devoted her career to mastering it. Over half a century after Seurat’s death, Canu gravitated towards French Postimpressionism and was pivotal in carrying Pointillism into the modern era.
Born in Morocco, Canu studied in Paris at the École des Arts Decoratifs until the start of WWII. Following the war, she met French painter Élisée Maclet and French-Japanese artist Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita who were influential in her exploration of Impressionist art. She also studied Cubism at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière alongside prolific French artist Ossip Zadkine.
Seeing Seurat’s masterpiece A Sunday on La Grande Jatte ultimately set Canu on a path to understand the complexities of his practice. She investigated Seurat’s use of complementary color and studied the work of French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul, who in the 19th century worked as the director of the famous Parisian tapestry factory, Gobelins Manufactory. In her work, she experimented with dabbing colors in such a way as to allow the viewer to perceive the greater tableau from afar.
Through this approach, Canu championed a colorful approach to water scenes including seascapes, harbors and rivers. Critics have drawn comparisons between Canu’s work and other 20th-century French artists who expanded on the innovative artistic ideas established in the 19th century.
Find original Yvonne Canu paintings and wall decorations on 1stDibs.
20th Century Yvonne Canu
Canvas, Wood, Paint
20th Century French Yvonne Canu
Paper
20th Century French Yvonne Canu
Paper
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Yvonne Canu
Paint
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Yvonne Canu
Paint, Paper
1790s French Romantic Antique Yvonne Canu
Other
1960s Danish Other Vintage Yvonne Canu
Canvas
1950s French Vintage Yvonne Canu
Paper
1970s American Vintage Yvonne Canu
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Yvonne Canu
Muslin, Bamboo, Cotton
20th Century European Modern Yvonne Canu
Canvas
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Yvonne Canu
Glass, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Yvonne Canu
Canvas
Late 20th Century French Yvonne Canu
Canvas, Wood
20th Century French Yvonne Canu
Giltwood, Paint
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Yvonne Canu
Paper
1970s French Expressionist Vintage Yvonne Canu
Paper, Linen, Glass, Oak
1980s French Vintage Yvonne Canu
Paint
1980s French Vintage Yvonne Canu
Paint