Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Paul Sérusier was a renowned modern painter and one of the founders of the Nabis group. Also celebrated as a prominent Symbolist painter, Sérusier attended the Lycée Condorcet, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. A decade later, he pursued formal art training at the Académie Julian, joining artists like Maurice Denis, Louis Valtat, Edouard Vuillard, and André Derain. Sérusier developed a close friendship with Denis. In 1888, he spent the summer in Pont-Aven, Brittany, a popular retreat for French and American painters, where he met Paul Gauguin. Gauguin’s influence was pivotal, encouraging Sérusier to use bold, pure colors and to break free from the constraints of realism. Inspired, Sérusier painted his iconic work Talisman (1888), which he presented to his fellow artists, sharing Gauguin's teachings. This gathering of artists, adopting Sérusier’s new principles, soon became known as the Nabis. The group included Maurice Denis, Paul-Élie Ranson, Pierre Bonnard, and Henri-Gabriel Ibels, later joined by Edouard Vuillard and Ker-Xavier Roussel, with a focus on spirituality as well.

Sérusier continued to spend summers in Brittany and winters in Paris, where he exhibited in Impressionist and Symbolist shows. By the early 1890s, his palette evolved to include colors beyond the “pure” tones. He eventually settled in Châteauneuf-du-Faou with his wife, where he produced paintings, theater costumes, and stage sets.

A Transformative Journey in 1898

In 1898, Sérusier embarked on a journey that further shaped his style and philosophy. Invited by his Symbolist friend Jan Verkade, he traveled to Beuron, Germany, where he encountered the artistic doctrine of the Beuronese monks through Father Desiderius Lenz. According to this doctrine, “sacred measures”—geometric proportions and harmonious forms—revealed the divine beauty of nature in art. Captivated, Sérusier returned to Paris, hoping to share these ideas with the Nabis, though they were less enthusiastic. The group gradually disbanded around 1900.

Starting in 1908, Sérusier regularly taught at the Académie Ranson and continued to exhibit his work. In 1921, he published ABC of Painting, detailing his theories on art. Sérusier passed away in 1927, leaving a lasting impact on art history. His works remain highly sought after by collectors and are in high demand at auction houses worldwide.

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