He was born in a cellar during the Commune uprising. His father was a cabinet-maker. Georges was apprenticed to a glazier, and attended evening classes at the Ecole des arts decoratifs. He was then admitted to the Beaux-Arts where he became Moreau's favourite pupil. When his teacher died in 1898 Rouault was nominated custodian of the Gustave Moreau Museum. In 1902 he came into contact with the Fauves. He endowed his subjects, borrowed from the world of the circus, the brothel and the courtroom, with intense, tormented expression. The series of clowns (Clown a la Loge, 1906), pierrots, prostitutes, and judges (Les luges, 1915) painted after 1904 in sombre hues reveal an acuteness of vision close to that of Goya or Daumier. His violent and concise
style makes him one of the greatest Impressionist masters. Human failure fascinated him: he painted scenes of debauchery, self-complacency, Phariseeism, and pride (Les Poulot, 1908; La Belle Madame X, 1915). His wealth of tenderness he kept for the underdog (Head of a Labourer, 1911; Exodus, 1911). The first general exhibition of his work took place at Druet's in 1910. In 1913 Vollard bought his entire collection. In his post-war work he used bright colours, the source of his inspiration being the Gospels. The passionate colouring of his pictures has the quality of stained glass. In 1929 he designed sets for the Diaghilev Ballet. He then turned to engraving, illustrated various books, and worked in stained glass and enamels. He neither signed nor dated any of his works after 1937. In 1947 he was involved in a lawsuit with the heirs of Ambroise Vollard. He burnt 315 of his pictures which he judged imperfect. In 1948 he designed stained glass windows for the Church at Assy. Rouault was a mystic (Le Christ aux Outrages, 1932; Passion, 1937; Sainte-Marthe, De Profundis, Nocturne chretien, 1952). He found everyday life terrifying, and attempted, by confronting ugliness and poverty, to sublimate them in gloomy compassion.

Post-Impressionism, Michel-Claude Jalard, Edito Service SA, Geneva