Bazaine, Jean

(1904-2001)

   painter

   Born in Paris, jean Bazaine had his first personal exhibition in 1932, and in 1945, he organized the show "vingt jeunes peintres de tradition française" in reaction to the political and cultural climate of the occupation regime. The effects of this show were significant. Bazaine himself began to reject all the "abstract" rules (Notes sur la peinture d'aujourd'hui, 1948, 1953, and 1955). Concerned about painting reality, he affirmed that his paintings reflected his feelings toward nature. His paintings are characterized by the use of line and color and irregular patterns, with dense tones, fragmentation, and juxtaposed or mixed forms (La Clairière, 1951). Interested also in monumental art, Bazaine worked in stained glass (church of Assy, 1944-46, church of Saint-Séverin in Paris, 1965-69), and in mosaics.