On his arrival in Paris in1882 he entered the Academie Julian and made his debut at the Salon of 1885; his first success was Portrait of M. Jasinski holding his Hat (1887). He restored paintingsin order to make a living andcontributed to the Revue Blanche. From1891 to 1897 he worked on dry-pointengraving, etching and wood-engraving.He exhibited with the Nabis at Le Barc deBoutteville in 1893 and at Bernheim Jeunein 1906. He was a close friend of Vuillardand from 1900 onwards they spent theirholidays together at the Chateau de Romanelabove Lake Leman. His preoccupation with austere realism distinguishedhim from the Nabis. He executed numerous portraits and caricatures, was influenced by Degas and Japanese art, and displayed certain of Maillol's characteristics. His themes were taken from the Paris streets, indoor life and everyday 'ocdiftences. His handling of interiors is extreinely original. His eye for unexpected and amusing details recalls Jules Renard. In his last period he returned to traditional painting. The complete catalogue of his work mentions 1,319 paintings. He was also a compulsive writer, producing both novels and plays, and attended Mallarme's Tuesday salons.

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