ABOUT Max Papart

Max Papart was a French painter and printmaker known for his cheerful Cubist style, depicting circus performers, birds, figures, still lifes, and landscapes.
Born in Marseille, France, in 1911, he was fascinated with drawing from an early age. However, his mother hoped he would take over the family poultry farming business. Despite this, he remained steadfast in his passion for art and moved to Paris in 1935, where he studied at the École du Louvre.
During World War II, Papart returned to Marseille, where he actively participated in the French Resistance, contributing to the liberation of the city. After the war, he returned to Paris in 1950, by which time his reputation was already growing. He received critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Papart was also highly regarded for his sophisticated printmaking techniques, breathing life into his works through methods such as Carborundum etching, aquatint, and textured handmade paper. He collaborated with Robert Dutrou, Morsang Atelier, and publisher Kenneth Nahan to create a series of [Master Prints], known for their intricate aquatint techniques. The etching process alone could take six months to a year, followed by another six months for printing each individual piece by hand, making them highly labor-intensive.
Papart is considered one of the most significant printmakers of the 20th century. The Director of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France) once praised his aquatints as [one of the most important prints produced in France during this era.]