Michel Georges-Michel
Encyclopedia
Michel Georges-Michel, pseudonym of Georges Dreyfus (3 November 1883/1886 – 1985), was a painter, journalist, novelist, and translator of English and American authors. He was born in Paris.
, a student of Othon Friesz
and Dufy
, and at l'École du Louvre. An artistic councillor, he worked with the Ballets russes
of Sergei Diaghilev
from 1913 to 1929. In 1917 he organised the first exhibition of Picasso
in Rome
. Founder of the prix de Rome for poetry, he worked on exhibitions of Matisse
and Soutine at the Venice Biennale
. He was also the initiator of the first cinema festivals and was president of the Association of dance writers and critics as well as the vice-president of the French Artistic Press Union.
He should not be confused with his near-namesake, the painter Georges Michel
(1763-1843), known as Michel de Montparnasse.
One of his most famous works, Les Montparnos, known as the first Georges-Michel, was written in 1923, published in 1929 and reprinted for the mass market (by Le Livre de Poche in 1976). He also painted, in Montparnasse
, under the names Modrulleau and Haricot-Rouge, with Modigliani
and Jeanne Hébuterne
, along with other painters in the École de Paris.
Biography
Georges-Michel studied at Beaux ArtsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
, a student of Othon Friesz
Othon Friesz
Achille-Émile Othon Friesz who later called himself just Othon Friesz , a native of Le Havre, was a French artist of the Fauvist movement....
and Dufy
Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy[p] was a French Fauvist painter. He developed a colorful, decorative style that became fashionable for designs of ceramics and textiles, as well as decorative schemes for public buildings. He is noted for scenes of open-air social events...
, and at l'École du Louvre. An artistic councillor, he worked with the Ballets russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
of Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
from 1913 to 1929. In 1917 he organised the first exhibition of Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Founder of the prix de Rome for poetry, he worked on exhibitions of Matisse
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
and Soutine at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. He was also the initiator of the first cinema festivals and was president of the Association of dance writers and critics as well as the vice-president of the French Artistic Press Union.
He should not be confused with his near-namesake, the painter Georges Michel
Georges Michel (painter)
Georges Michel was a French landscape painter. An important precursor of the Barbizon school, Michel was practically unknown during his lifetime, and worked as copyist and restorer....
(1763-1843), known as Michel de Montparnasse.
Works
Georges-Michel wrote more than one hundred books, diaries, critiques, souvenirs and novels. Some of his works have been adapted for cinema and television. Many of his works are displayed in museums, notably in the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and the Museum of San Francisco.One of his most famous works, Les Montparnos, known as the first Georges-Michel, was written in 1923, published in 1929 and reprinted for the mass market (by Le Livre de Poche in 1976). He also painted, in Montparnasse
Montparnasse
Montparnasse is an area of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred at the crossroads of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Rue de Rennes, between the Rue de Rennes and boulevard Raspail...
, under the names Modrulleau and Haricot-Rouge, with Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani was an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. Primarily a figurative artist, he became known for paintings and sculptures in a modern style characterized by mask-like faces and elongation of form...
and Jeanne Hébuterne
Jeanne Hébuterne
Jeanne Hébuterne was a French artist, best known as the frequent subject and common-law wife of the artist Amedeo Modigliani.- Early life :...
, along with other painters in the École de Paris.
Other works by Georges-Michel
- La Rose de Perse, French illustrated edition, 1920
- L'Époque tango, Tome I, Pall-malls, Deauville, Paris, Riviéra, L'édition, 1920
- La Vie à DeauvilleDeauvilleDeauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
, cover by Van DongenKees van DongenCornelis Theodorus Maria van Dongen , usually known as Kees van Dongen or just Van Dongen, was a Dutch painter and one of the Fauves. He gained a reputation for his sensuous, at times garish, portraits....
, Flammarion, 1922 - Dans la fête à VeniseVeniseVenise may refer to:* Venice, in certain languages, like French, for instance* Venise, a commune of the Doubs département, in France...
, cover by Van Dongen, Fayard, 1922 - La Bohême canaille, Re-edition, 1922
- Les Montparnos, novel, cover by PicassoPablo PicassoPablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
, Fayard, 1924; Le Livre de Poche, 1976 [film, Les amants de Montparnasse, 1958, directed by Jacques BeckerJacques BeckerJacques Becker was a French screenwriter and film director.Becker was born in Paris, in an upper class background. During the 1930s he worked as an assistant to director Jean Renoir during his peak period, which produced such cinematic masterpieces as Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game...
, starring Gérard Philippe as Modigliani, Anouk AiméeAnouk AiméeAnouk Aimée is a French film actress. Aimée has appeared in 70 films since 1947. She began her film career in 1947 at age 14. In 1958 she portrayed the tragic artist Jeanne Hébuterne in the film Les Amants de Montparnasse...
as Jeanne Hébuterne, Lino VenturaLino VenturaLino Ventura , was an Italian actor who starred in French movies.-Biography:Born as Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura in Parma, Italy to Giovanni Ventura and Luisa Borrini, "Lino" dropped out of school at the age of eight and later took on a variety of jobs...
...] - La Vie mondaine sur la Riviéra et en Italie, Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Rome, Florence, Venise, cover by Van Dongen, Flammarion, 1925
- En jardinant avec BergsonHenri BergsonHenri-Louis Bergson was a major French philosopher, influential especially in the first half of the 20th century. Bergson convinced many thinkers that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality.He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize...
, chroniques 1899-1926, Albin Michel, 1926 - Deauville, 1928; Le livre d'histoire-Lorisse, 2002
- Les Journées de BiarritzBiarritzBiarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
, éditions Baudinière, 1931 - Folles de luxe et dames de qualité, cover by Van Dongen, éditions Baudinière, 1931
- Nuits d'actrices, Les éditions de France, 1933
- Peau douce, novel, éditions Baudinière, 1933
- La Bohème de minuit, Fayard, 1933
- Ardente, novel, Tallandier, 1934
- Coeur-chaud ou le chercheur d'amour, éditions Baudinière, 1934
- Mon image devant toi, cover by Van Dongen, éditions Baudinière, 1935
- Autres Montparnos, Albin Michel, 1935
- Star, novel, éditions Baudinière, 1939
- Nulle part dans le monde, tome 1. Le dernier bateau, tome 2. Il est grand d'être à Miami, La Maison française, 1941
- Peintres et sculpteurs que j'ai connus, 1900-1942, Brentano's, 1942
- Chefs d'œuvres de peintres contemporains, Maison française, 1945
- Le Baiser à Consuelo, suivi de Récits d'Espagne, Bordas, 1947
- De Renoir à Picasso, Les peintres que j'ai connus, Fayard, 1954