Gustave Loiseau (1865 - 1935) France Watercolor on Paper Measure 7"in H x 9 1/2"in W and 14"in H x 16 1/2"in W with frame Known for: Post impressionist landscape, still life and seascape painting Biography: Gustave Loiseau was a painter drawn to the beauty and atmosphere of the landscape, and was influenced by such great painters as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin and Maxime Maufra. Loiseau's landscapes reflected an Impressionist vision with a Divisionist style. Born to shop keepers who moved to Ile-Saint-Louis in Paris shortly after he was born, Loiseau acquired only a basic education, as he was expected to help with the store at an early age. In his free time, the young boy would sketch and do copies of prints. After a serious illness, he convinced his parents to allow him to pursue his artistic inclinations, and thus Loiseau became an apprentice to a decorator. Through this experience, the young boy met painter, Fernand Just Quignon, who would become his first real instructor and inspiration to focus on landscape painting. In 1890, Loiseau moved to Pont Aven where he befriended Maxime Maufra, Emile Dezaunay and Henry Moret, who influenced his Impressionist style and convinced him the exhibit his paintings at the Salon des Indépendants in 1891 and 1892. In 1894, Louiseau met Paul Gauguin after his return from Tahiti, and a deep friendship grew between the two artists. Loiseau traveled often throughout the countryside of France. He liked to paint in series, much like Monet, and attempted to capture scenes in different times of the day. He chose to depict the transformations in nature caused by changing light. Sensitive as he was to every nuance, he refused to paint in the glaring midday light - bright colors hurt his eyes, he preferred softer, subtler scenes -afternoons when the sky is dotted with clouds, the soft golden light at the end of the day, morning fog and evening mists and the dreamy effects of snow.