Charles Guérin
1875-1939

Charles François Prosper Guérin was born in Sens, France in 1875.
Guérin was a student of Gustave Moreau at l’École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He began exhibiting in 1897 at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon d’Automne from1903, and the Salon des Indépendants from 1906.

Guérin exhibited primarily at the Galerie Druet in Paris. He exhibited in many European cities including Munich in 1898, 1900 and 1911, Brussels in 1908, Amsterdam in 1912, and Rome in 1913.

Guérin’s paintings fell out of fashion after World War One, however he continued working and in 1923 he was one of the founders of the Salon des Tuileries.
Guérin was an admirer of Monet and Renoir, and took the technique of the Impressionists and applied it in his own style, with unusual and original use of color. He painted portraits, but his boldness expresses itself best in his nudes and vampish women.

Guérin illustrated several books, including Daphinis et Chloé and works by Colette. He designed decorations and costumes for Monteverdi’s Couronnement de Poppée at the Théâtre des Arts Frais et Lumineux.

Guérin in represented in the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Musée Caen, and Musée Toulon.

At least ten of Guérin’s painting were acquired by the Museum of Modern Western Art in Moscow, they are now at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.