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- 1841Born in Paris; raised working in his uncle's shop while attending evening drawing lessons.
- 1861At 20, enrolled at the Academie Suisse in Paris, where he met Paul Cezanne and Camille Pissarro, forming lifelong friendships.
- 1874At 33, exhibited at the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris, one of six he would participate in over the next twelve years.
- 1886At 45, befriended Vincent van Gogh in Paris; Vincent admired his work so highly that he mentioned Guillaumin in at least 36 letters.
- 1892At 51, won 100,000 francs in the city lottery, finally allowing him to quit his government job and paint full-time.
- 1904At 63, settled in Crozant in the Creuse valley, painting the dramatic rocky landscapes with the bold palette that prefigured Fauvism.
- 1927Died aged 86 in Orly, the last surviving member of the original Impressionist group.
Notable Works
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Armand Guillaumin prints
Hand-finished archival prints from Armand Guillaumin's body of work.
Sunset at Ivry (Soleil couchant à Ivry) - Armand Guillaumin
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Moulin Bouchardon, Crozant - Armand Guillaumin
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Moulins en Hollande - Armand Guillaumin
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Paysage du Midi - Armand Guillaumin
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Epinay-sur-Orge - Armand Guillaumin
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Rafales de vent, Le Brusc - Armand Guillaumin
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See all Armand Guillaumin prints →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Armand Guillaumin known for?
Armand Guillaumin is known for exhibiting with the Impressionists since their first show in 1874. He painted regularly with Pissarro and Cezanne in the 1860s and 1870s and showed his work at most of the Impressionist exhibitions.What is Armand Guillaumin's most famous work?
Armand Guillaumin produced paintings in a broadly impressionistic style. Although it is difficult to name one single 'most famous' work, some of his better-known paintings include: L’Hermitage (circa 1868), which is held in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; A Fair at the Hermitage near Pontoise (circa 1878), which can be seen at the Courtauld Institute Galleries, London; and Apple Picking (1886), which is in the Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki, Okayama, in Japan. Other notable paintings are The Boieldieu Bridge at Rouen, Setting Sun, Foggy Weather (1896), which is in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris; and The Boulevard Montmartre on a Cloudy Morning (1897), which is held by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.What should I know about Armand Guillaumin's prints?
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker. Although not as widely recognised as some of his contemporaries, such as Monet and Pissarro, Guillaumin made significant contributions to the development of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist printmaking. Guillaumin explored various printmaking techniques, including lithography and etching. His prints often feature similar subjects to his paintings: scenes of Paris, and the French countryside. He was particularly drawn to the Creuse region; the area's rivers and hills appear often in his work. Like other Impressionists, Guillaumin was interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. He used colour to convey his impressions of a scene, often employing bold, contrasting hues. Guillaumin's prints demonstrate a concern with the formal elements of art, such as line, shape, and composition. His prints offer a valuable insight into the broader artistic developments of the late 19th century.What style or movement did Armand Guillaumin belong to?
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) is associated with Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. He lived mainly in Paris, and he supplemented his painting by working in the civil service until 1891, when a lottery win allowed him to paint and travel more extensively. Guillaumin met Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne in 1861, and he painted with them regularly in the 1860s and 1870s. He participated in most of the Impressionist exhibitions between 1874 and 1886. During the 1880s, Guillaumin befriended and encouraged younger artists, including Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh. He exhibited with the Société des Indépendants in 1884, and at the Salon d’Automne from 1903. Unlike other Impressionists, Guillaumin frequently depicted industrial subjects in the 1870s. From about 1875 onward, he created numerous paintings of the working-class areas along the Seine, east of the Île de la Cité. While Johan Jongkind and Stanislas Lépine had previously worked in this area of Paris, Guillaumin placed greater emphasis on the local inhabitants and their occupations. His paintings from the 1880s are characterised by broad handling and bright colours.What techniques or materials did Armand Guillaumin use?
Armand Guillaumin worked primarily in oils, pastels, and watercolours. Like other Impressionists, he often painted en plein air (outdoors), directly observing the effects of light and colour in nature. This approach was facilitated by the availability of new materials, such as ready-mixed paints in collapsible tubes, which allowed artists to transport their materials more easily. Guillaumin, as with many artists of his era, bought ready-made canvases and colours from colour merchants. These merchants sold a complete range of items, including supports, frames, brushes, drawing materials, paper, palettes, and easels. The rise of these merchants reflected a shift in artistic practice, where the preparation of materials became the business of traders rather than the artists themselves. The use of oil paint allowed for sustained responses to fleeting visual effects, with colours washed or loaded on and manipulated with brushes or knives.When did Armand Guillaumin live and work?
Armand Guillaumin was active in the French art world from the 1870s through the early 1900s. He participated in the Impressionist group exhibitions alongside artists such as Cassatt, Degas, Gauguin, Monet, and Pissarro; for example, he exhibited with them in April 1881 and March 1886. Guillaumin also showed his work at the Salon exhibitions, along with artists such as Aman-Jean, Besnard, and Martin. His paintings were included in the Exposition Universelle in 1900, which presented a survey of French art from 1800 to 1889. This large exhibition included works by artists such as Cézanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, and Renoir. These exhibition records suggest that Guillaumin was an active participant in the art scene during this period.Where can I see Armand Guillaumin's work?
Paintings by Armand Guillaumin can be viewed in many public collections. Numerous museums in France hold his work, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes, the Musée d’Art Moderne in Strasbourg, and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Other locations include the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, the Musée du Louvre in Paris, and the Musée du Petit Palais, also in Paris. Outside Paris, works by Guillaumin can be seen at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, the Musée de la Chartreuse in Douai, and the Musée Crozatier in Le Puy. Other museums that hold his art are the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Cheret in Nice, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Orléans, and the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse. These collections, among others, provide opportunities to experience Guillaumin's artistic output.Where was Armand Guillaumin from?
Armand Guillaumin was born in Moulins, France, in 1841. Although born in Moulins, he spent most of his life in Paris. For many years, Guillaumin worked part-time to support his artistic endeavours. He held positions in the Paris civil service, as well as with the Orleans railway company, where he worked as a ticket clerk until 1868. He then took a better-paying job with the Department of Bridges and Roads, which allowed him to paint during the day. Guillaumin's early artistic focus included the industrial waterways of Paris. He depicted scenes along the Seine, including barges and the bustling activity around the Gare d’Orléans (now the Gare d’Austerlitz). These works offer a glimpse into the city's economic life during that time. In 1891, Guillaumin's financial situation improved significantly when he won a lottery. This allowed him to dedicate himself more fully to painting and to travel extensively. He died in 1927.Who did Armand Guillaumin influence?
Armand Guillaumin, born in Moulins in 1841, spent much of his career in Paris. He supported himself with civil service jobs until a lottery win in 1891 allowed him to paint full time. In the 1880s, Guillaumin met and encouraged several younger artists, including Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh. Guillaumin's focus on industrial scenes resonated with his close friends Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro. From 1871 to 1872, Cézanne lived opposite the Halle aux Vins, possibly inspiring his painting *La Halle aux Vins*. In early 1872, Cézanne apparently painted in Guillaumin’s studio, where he included Guillaumin's *The Seine in Paris* in the background of his *Self-Portrait*. Cézanne also made a copy of Guillaumin’s *The Seine at Bercy*. Guillaumin, along with Pissarro, was known for helping and advising younger artists. He exhibited with the Société des Indépendants, unlike other Impressionists.Who was Armand Guillaumin?
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) was a French Impressionist painter born in Moulins, who lived mainly in Paris. He worked part-time to support his art, holding jobs in the Paris civil service and elsewhere. In 1891, he won a lottery, which allowed him to travel and paint more frequently. Guillaumin met Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne in 1861, and he painted with them regularly in the 1860s and 1870s. He exhibited in most of the Impressionist exhibitions from 1874 to 1886. During the 1880s, Guillaumin met and encouraged younger artists, including Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh. He exhibited with the Société des Indépendants in 1884, and at the Salon d’Automne from 1903. Guillaumin regularly depicted industrial subjects in the 1870s. From about 1875 onward, he painted the working-class quais of the Seine to the east of the Île de la Cité. His 1871 painting *The Seine in Paris, Rainy Weather* shows the view from the Quai Henri IV, near the Île Saint-Louis, with the apse of Notre-Dame Cathedral in the background.Why are Armand Guillaumin's works important today?
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) is significant as an Impressionist who depicted industrial scenes and for his support of younger artists. Born in Moulins, he spent most of his life in Paris. Until 1891, when a lottery win allowed him to paint full-time, he worked in the civil service. Guillaumin met Pissarro and Cézanne in 1861. He regularly painted with them in the 1860s and 1870s and showed work in most of the Impressionist exhibitions from 1874 to 1886. During the 1880s, he assisted many younger artists, including Gauguin, Signac, Seurat, and Van Gogh. He exhibited with the Société des Indépendants in 1884 and at the Salon d’Automne from 1903. Unlike other Impressionist painters, Guillaumin regularly represented industrial subjects. From about 1875, he created many paintings of the working-class quays along the Seine east of the Île de la Cité. Although Jongkind and Lépine had previously worked in this area of Paris, Guillaumin placed greater emphasis on the local people and their work. Around 1885 he painted on the quays with Signac and Dubois-Pillet. His paintings from the 1880s are broadly handled and often brightly coloured.What was Armand Guillaumin's art style?
Armand Guillaumin's art style is characterised by a saturated colour intensity. His landscapes are considered to have an almost Fauvist quality.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Armand Guillaumin.
- [1] museum Museum Barberini Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum MuMa Museum of modern art André Malraux Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Unterlinden Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Van Gogh Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Cleveland Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] museum Norton Simon Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [7] wikidata Wikidata: Q436844 Used for: identifiers.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-02. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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