Jacques Germain

Jacques Germain was an abstract painter of the post-war School of Paris, who developed a technique known as Abstraction Lyrique. He was one of its most prominent members in Paris, alongside Mathieu, Bryen, Riopelle and Lanksoy. Abstraction Lyrique valued the personal expression of the artist, ensuring it was not limited by geometric standards.

He studied at the Modern Academy, which was then directed by Fernand Léger and Amédée Ozenfant. In 1931, Blaise Cendrars and Fernand Léger advised his parents to send him to the Bauhaus. Germain arrived in Dessau in October 1931 and stayed for two semesters. He was the only French student to study at the Bauhaus.

In October 1932, he moved to Frankfurt, where he attended classes with the Constructivist Willi Baumeister. When the Nazis came to power, he returned to Paris and worked in advertising. In September 1936, Jacques Germain completed his military service.

War broke out a few years later and the artist was captured, spending three years in captivity. On his return to France, he devoted himself to painting, and in 1949 he had his first solo exhibition in Paris. Since then, he has participated in many international exhibitions, and his paintings now sell for high prices at auction.