Utrillo, Maurice

(1883-1955)

   painter

   Born in Paris, Maurice utrillo was the son of suzanne valadon (who was his only art teacher) and probably an individual, known as Boissy, but was acknowledged by the Catalan critic Miguel utrillo in 1897. Becoming an alcoholic quite young, utrillo had to undergo early treatment for detoxification. His mother, to keep him occupied, encouraged him to draw and paint. Committed several times, he soon became known as the classic "troubled artist" (peintre maudit) and a legend grew up around him. Admired by other artists and critics alike, he became popular with the public and, in 1928, was awarded the legion of honor. Practically self-taught, he began with a realistic and somber style (Roofs of Montmagny, 1906-07) but quickly evolved toward a lighter and airier technique that shows the influence of camille pissarro and alfred sisley. Beginning in 1907, his townscapes of the Parisian suburbs and of Montmartre show personal touches and are part of what is known as his "white period" (1906-16), a time of experimentation in which he worked with a palette knife instead of a brush. The harmony of varied nuances in his paintings confers a poetic, often melancholy character to these urban locales, cafés, churches, town squares, and often snowy and deserted streets. utrillo also found a source of inspiration in postcards, and he had a tendency to use the most vivid colors, stressing line and minute detail, recalling in his paintings the naive style.