Georges Lacombe Biography

Georges Lacombe (1868–1916) was a French painter and sculptor associated with Les Nabis, the group of artists who explored simplified forms, expressive colour and the decorative possibilities of painting during the 1890s. Within the group he was known as the ‘Nabi sculptor’, although he also produced landscapes, drawings and figure paintings.

Lacombe was born in Versailles on 18 June 1868 into a family with strong artistic interests. His mother, Laure, taught him to draw and paint, while his father introduced him to woodworking. He later studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, where his teachers included Henri Gervex. His early training gave him a foundation in drawing, but he increasingly sought a more personal and decorative approach.

He spent several summers in Brittany, particularly around Camaret-sur-Mer, where the coastline, wooded landscapes and Breton traditions provided subjects for his work. In 1892 he met Paul Sérusier, who introduced him to the ideas of Les Nabis. Lacombe was also influenced by Paul Gauguin, especially his use of broad areas of colour, strong outlines and carved wooden forms.

As a painter, Lacombe often transformed natural scenes into rhythmic arrangements of shapes and colours. His seascapes and forest paintings place less emphasis on detailed description than on mood and pattern. Works such as Marine bleue, effet de vagues and The Yellow Sea demonstrate his interest in the movement of water, while his Breton subjects reveal an attraction to symbolism and local folklore.

Wood carving became an equally important part of his practice. During the 1890s he created carved panels depicting themes such as birth, love and death, combining simplified figures with decorative surfaces. He also made figures for the puppet theatre of Paul Ranson. Later, Lacombe sculpted portraits of fellow Nabis, including Maurice Denis and Pierre Bonnard, reflecting the friendships that connected the group.

In the early twentieth century Lacombe experimented with Neo-Impressionist colour and brushwork, broadening his approach beyond the Symbolist style of his earlier work. He continued painting and sculpting in Normandy and maintained his artistic friendships.

Lacombe died near Alençon on 29 June 1916. His paintings and sculptures illustrate the breadth of Les Nabis, whose ambitions extended beyond easel painting to the decorative arts and the integration of art into everyday life.