Christian Caillard

Christian Caillard (1899–1985), a French painter recognized in 1949 as a "Painter of Poetic Reality" by Gisèle d'Assailly, divided his time between his studio in Montmartre and many travels: Mexico, Madagascar, Bali, Bora-Bora.

After the Phony War, followed by his captivity in an oflag, he became attached to Brittany where he painted particularly in St Guénolé and Ouessant. He also goes regularly to Spain, where he acquires a house in Javea in 1953.

"I seek to express feelings by the most purely pictorial means" said Caillard, adding "painting is for me only human resonance"

Reflection of his emotions and testimony of his encounters, his work illustrates his interest in the human figure.

"Everything that embodies beauty attracts him: the vegetation, the variety of costumes, the richness of fabrics, the graces of childhood"

(in l'Ecole de Paris 1945 – 1965 by Lydia Harambourg)

Danielle Bourdette-Gorzkowski
Extract from the catalogue « Les Années 50 »