Jean Francis Auburtin 1866-1930

Jean Francis Auburtin (1866-1930) was a French painter and decorator, often associated with Symbolism and Art Nouveau. Trained in Paris, notably at the Académie Julian, he followed in the footsteps of Puvis de Chavannes, extending the ideal of a monumental, harmonious, and timeless decorative art.

Auburtin is best known for his stylized landscapes, frequently inspired by the coasts of Brittany and the Mediterranean, where nature is simplified to the point of near abstraction. His compositions, often bathed in a soft, unreal light, convey a poetic and contemplative vision of the world.

Alongside his easel paintings, he produced numerous mural decorations for public and private buildings, reflecting his commitment to integrating art within architecture. His work, at the crossroads of Symbolism and decorative art, reveals a constant search for balance between modernity and classical tradition.

Today, Auburtin is appreciated for the serenity and visual musicality of his landscapes, making him a distinctive figure in French painting at the turn of the 20th century.