Henry Simon

Henry Simon (Saint-Hilaire-of-Laugh, December 28th 1910 - Saint-Hilaire-of-Laugh, February 27th 1987) is a Artist-painter.

Artist-painter, ceramist and decorator, Henry Simon painted during more than 60 years. After its disappearance, an association law the 1901 Friends of Henry Simon was created.

Its biography

Presenting as of its more young age of real gifts for the drawing, he is encouraged in this way at the Elementary school, then with the College of Fontenay-the-Count where its professor initiates it with the traditional drawing.

Admitted with the School of the Art schools of Nantes in 1928, it has as professors Emile Simon, Alexis Lesage and Patay.

It receives, in 1930, the price “Decré” allotted annually to a young artist.

In 1932, it enters to the National school of the Art schools of Paris, in the class of Lucien Simon. It obtains the “Told” price intended for a pupil of the School. In the capital, he attends many workshops.

Of return in the Vendée, in 1934, it is devoted to painting with the Country. There, it meets Jean Launois and adheres to the group of Painters of Saint-Jean-of-Mounts.

“My pictorial vision was born from my Country; to sing it, I have to only look in me” I was likely to be generation to which Charles Milcendeau opened the way. ” H.S.

In 1939, the weather is mobilized then, in 1940, been captive and transferred in the Stalag IB from Eastern Prussia where it binds friendship with Charles-Emile Pinson, price of Rome of engraving. It continues to draw according to its possibilities.

“I, at that time, was upset by the matter to translate. Nobody could play the comedy. This naked nature was, for the painters, a formidable experiment, an immense lesson.” H.S.

On its return, it carries out an album: “Companions of Silence” gathering 20 watercolours of captivity, in collaboration with his/her brother Andre, author of the text.

It is not that in 1945 qu ' it takes again the rate/rhythm of its exposures of before the war.

In 1950, it Marie and, the same year, goes on a journey in Algérie.

“If I went to Algeria, it is precisely because I felt the need to confirm my searchs for color. I sought the joy. I found it in the Vendée through one latent melancholy, this light veil which filters violences of the sun, softens them truculent expressions. I found it in Algeria, brighter certainly, but discrete still thanks to the nuances of the white. ” H.S.

From 1950 to 1960, Henry Simon completes work of decoration of public edifices: frescos of the municipal casino of the Sands of Olonne, paintings of the casino Pastourelle of Saint-Jean-of-Mounts.

Since 1960, the artist works on topics: “Regional Scenes - Sailors - Youth - Circus - Dance - Plays - Music - Water - Lunches on grass - Belief - Portraits…” treated with the charcoal, the pastel, the watercolour, the gouache or oil.

Henry Simon, on the topic of water: “I became aware of the importance of the liquid element from the pictorial point of view. Water is a plastic vehicle which changes at any moment and allows thousand visions different in the minimum from time. ”

In 1968, it exposes to the living room of the “pilot Painters of their time”. Its fabric “My eighth child” table family of a serene and very coloured composition, is very noticed.

A first “Retrospective Henry Simon” is organized in 1971 with the municipal museum of Sand-in Olonne.

It is promoted Chevalier about Arts and Letters in 1976. The price “Charles Milcendeau” is decreed to him in 1978 and, this same year, a second “Retrospective” is devoted to him to the Palate of the Congresses of Saint-Jean-of-Mounts.

Surrounded of the affection of his family and his friends, Henry Simon dies on February 27th, 1987 with Saint-Hilaire-of-Laugh. He leaves us a fertile work and authenticates, often flooded light and impregnated of happiness. The poetry which emerges some and sometimes moving it reality make it very personal and reflects the great sensitivity of the artist.

space Henry Simon or “the rimajures”

Located at Saint-Gilles-Cross-of-Life, are the old workshops of the artist, to refit in cultural center by his/her daughter (Anne Simon).

External bonds

Biographie supplements Henry Simon on the site of association '' the Friends of Henry Simon ''.

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