Jacques Duthoo (1910-1960)
Jacques Duthoo
(1910-1960)
Philippe Bourgoin
Abstract painter Jacques Duthoo was born on February 19th 1910, in Tours, into a family of businessmen. His father, Arthur Duthoo, was the founder of the Grand Bazar, on the Rue Nationale, in 1888, which later became Les Nouvelles Galeries. A lifelong art enthusiast, Jacques was initially an avid collector and corresponded with many contemporary artists. He began painting in 1943, inspired by the great masters like Mondrian, Klee and Kandinsky. The explosion of abstract art led him to become involved with the young generation of artists who, during the 1940s and 1950s, promoted and disseminated this art on the Parisian scene.
Jacques Duthoo (1910-1969). © Archives familiales Duthoo. © Benjamin Dubuis.
The launching of his career was also the result of meetings, first with the famous dealer Wilhem Udhe and then with people like Denise René, Dina Vierny, Suzanne de Coninck and art critics Franck Elgar and Léon Degand. In 1947, he joined the Denise René gallery and in May of that year was exhibited alongside Poliakoff, Poujet, Marie Raymond and Reth.
Duthoo was a versatile artist, and also successfully tried his hand at sculpture, ceramics and engraving as a member of the "Graphies" group, created in 1949. Connected as he was with a movement that encouraged artists, as well as dealers, to acquaint and surround themselves with "primitive" works, he built up a collection of pieces from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and frequented dealers like Charles Ratton and Madeleine Rousseau, who was involved in promoting contemporary art as well. Duthoo lived for art and devoted all of his time to exploring new forms of creation until he drew his last breath in Paris on March 13th 1960, at the age of just fifty.
Large Papuan Gulf bullroarer, ex. James Duthoo Collection, ex. John Friede Collection, Published in Collection "le Musee vivant" in L'Art Oceanien with texts by Guillaume Apollinaire and Tristan Tzara published by Madeleine Rousseau; Madison Wisconsin private collection.
