PASCIN Jules

Jules Pascin (1885-1930), Bulgarian-born painter and draftsman of the École de Paris, nicknamed the prince of Montparnasse, renowned for his nudes with pearly tones. Original print.

Jules Pascin, the Prince of Montparnasse

Jules Pascin (1885-1930), nicknamed the "Prince of Montparnasse," is one of the most endearing figures of the École de Paris. A virtuoso draftsman, he left behind nudes and intimate scenes of unique sensuality and melancholy, painted in pearly and ethereal tones.

Milestones

• 1885: Birth of Julius Mordecai Pincas in Vidin, Bulgaria, on March 31.
• 1905: Arrives in Paris after years in Vienna and Munich, where he draws for the magazine Simplicissimus.
• 1914-1920: Stays in the United States, where he obtains citizenship.
• 1920s: Central figure in Montparnasse's life.
• 1930: Dies in Paris on June 2, on the eve of a major exhibition.

A Genius Draftsman

Born in Bulgaria, Jules Pascin trained in Vienna and Munich, where he collaborated at a young age with the satirical magazine Simplicissimus. Arriving in Paris in 1905, he frequented the Café du Dôme and became a pillar of Montparnasse's artistic life, alongside Moïse Kisling, Léonard Foujita, and Amedeo Modigliani. His flexible, nervous, and precise line captures bodies, gestures, and gazes with a tenderness tinged with sadness.

The American Exile

At the onset of World War I, Pascin left France for the United States. He spent several years there, traveling to the South and even Cuba, bringing back a multitude of drawings and watercolors captured on the spot: markets, ports, bustling streets, scenes of daily life. He obtained American citizenship before returning to Paris, where he reclaimed his place at the heart of Montparnasse.

Nudes and Pearly Tones

Initially influenced by Fauvism and then Cubism, Pascin found his path in a light, almost transparent painting style, where female nudes seem to float in an iridescent light. His models, friends, wife Hermine David, and companion Lucy Krohg populate his work. Generous and festive, Pascin gathered all of Montparnasse's bohemia around him. Undermined by alcohol and melancholy, he ended his life in 1930, at forty-five.

The Draftsman and Engraver

Drawing is at the heart of Pascin's art. His line, both flexible, swift, and precise, suffices to bring forth a silhouette, a gesture, or a gaze. He also practiced engraving, etching, and drypoint with the same freedom, as well as book illustration. His prints, few and sought after, allow one to rediscover the delicacy of his line.

Choosing a Jules Pascin Artwork

An original Pascin print is a rare and precious piece, ideal for lovers of drawing and the École de Paris. His genre scenes, imbued with humor and tenderness, naturally find their place in an office, library, or bedroom. Each work offered by the gallery is described with precision and sold with an invoice-certificate.

Jules Pascin at Galerie 125

The gallery offers above the original print "La Cruche cassée," measuring 45 x 32 cm, a beautiful illustration of the finesse of his line. It is shipped to you with care, tracked and insured, with the gallery's certificate. Other Montparnasse painters to discover: Michel Kikoïne, Chaïm Soutine, and Marie Laurencin.

Do you own a work by Jules Pascin and wish to sell it? Discover how to proceed on our Sell an Artwork page.