Georges Charles Dufresne (1876 – 1936) - The Judgement Of Paris

Georges Charles Dufresne
Millemont 1876 – 1936 La Seyne-sur-Mer
French Painter

'The Judgment of Paris'

Signature: signed lower right 'dufresne'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 82 x 100 cm, frame size 105 x 124 cm

Biography: Georges Charles Dufresne (23 November 1876 – August 1938) was a distinguished French artist, known for his remarkable versatility as a painter, draughtsman, sculptor, and print-maker. Born in Millemont, France, into a family with maritime roots from Granville, Dufresne initially pursued engraving before moving to Paris to study at the prestigious École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. There, he trained under renowned artists such as Hubert Ponscarme and Alexandre Charpentier, but his passion for painting soon led him in a new direction.

Inspired by the vibrant scenes of Parisian nightlife, Dufresne began creating pastel works in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec, capturing the lively atmosphere of cafés, circuses, and guinguettes. His first major exhibition was in 1903 at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. He later traveled to Italy with his close friend, the American-born engraver Herbert Lespinasse, further enriching his artistic perspective.

In 1910, Dufresne won the Abd-el-Tif prize, which enabled him to spend two years in Algiers. It was here that he fully embraced oil painting and developed his signature Orientalist style, characterized by bold colors and exotic themes. Returning to France, he established a studio and became widely recognized for his Orientalist works.

During World War I, Dufresne served in the French army and, after being wounded, was assigned to the Section de Camouflage, where he worked alongside the painter André Dunoyer de Segonzac. Even amid the war, he managed to produce striking Cubist-inspired depictions of the conflict.

The 1920s were a highly productive period for Dufresne. In 1921, he was commissioned by Jacques Rouché, the director of the Opéra de Paris, to design sets for the ballet *Antar*. He also collaborated with Louis Süe and André Mare, creating Art Deco tapestry designs for the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Dufresne became a respected teacher at the Académie Scandinave, an art school supported by Scandinavian patrons. His later works included murals for the Palais de Chaillot and the Faculté de Pharmacie in Paris, the latter completed just before his death in 1938.

Dufresne’s contributions to the world of art were widely recognized, and his works were celebrated at a major retrospective at the Venice Biennale shortly after his passing. Today, he is remembered as a master of multiple mediums, whose works continue to inspire admiration for their vibrant energy and cross-cultural influence.