A Life Between Toulouse and Paris
Born in Fronton, France, François Gauzi was a painter, wood engraver, xylographer, and artist. His artistic journey began at the École des beaux-arts de Toulouse, where he was encouraged by Puvis de Chavannes, before he moved to Paris to study under Alfred Roll and Fernand Cormon. During his time in Paris, he became part of a circle of artists that included Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Louis Anquetin, Émile Bernard, Albert Grenier, and Vincent van Gogh. He was a close friend of Henri Rachou and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, often serving as a model for the latter.
Gauzi's life was deeply connected to the vibrant atmosphere of Montmartre, where he lived on rue Tourlaque. While he dreamed of exhibiting at the Salon, he instead participated in the Salon des indépendants starting in 1891. Later in life, he returned to the Haute-Garonne region, dividing his time between Toulouse and Fronton. He eventually became the president of the Société des artistes méridionaux during the First World War.
Artistic Works and Techniques
The oeuvre of François Gauzi is diverse, encompassing intimate portraits, urban views of Toulouse, and post-impressionist landscapes of his native Frontonnais region. His painting style is noted for its focus on these various subjects. In addition to his paintings, he was a skilled engraver. During the final fifteen years of his life, he dedicated himself to wood engraving, producing several limited-edition albums for bibliophiles and friends, such as Les étranges fleurs du Jardin d'Amour.
His notable artistic contributions include:
Beyond his formal works, Gauzi was an amateur photographer who captured portraits of models and scenes of masquerade parties.
