Charles André Mare (1885–1932), or André-Charles Mare, was a French painter and textile designer, and co-founder of the Company of French Art (''la Compagnie des Arts Français'') in 1919. He was a designer of colorful textiles, and was one of the founders of the

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

movement. As a soldier in the French Army in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Mare led the development of

military camouflage Military camouflage is the use of camouflage by an Military, armed force to protect personnel and equipment from observation by enemy forces. In practice, this means applying colour and materials to military equipment of all kinds, including ...

, painting artillery using

Cubism Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement which began in Paris. It revolutionized painting and the visual arts, and sparked artistic innovations in music, ballet, literature, and architecture. Cubist subjects are analyzed, broke ...

techniques to deceive the eye. His ink and watercolour painting ''Le canon de 280 camouflé'' (The Camouflaged 280 Gun) shows the close interplay of abstract art and military application at that time. He authored the book ''Cubisme et Camouflage'', 1914–1918. Mare sketched and painted scenes based on his experiences in World War I. His works include: ''American Troops Marching Through the Arch of Triumph'', 1930, and ''The Funeral of Marshal Foch'', 1931. After the war Mare combined his talents with the skills of architect Louis Sue and became a leader in the

movement. He designed pavilions, textiles and furnishings for the

International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts () was a specialized exhibition held in Paris, France, from April 29 (the day after it was inaugurated in a private ceremony by the President of France) to November 8, 1925 (O ...

in Paris in 1925. and interiors of residences and the French ocean liners. A common feature of his work was the stylized rose, in garlands or bouquets.

Early life

Mare was born in

Argentan Argentan () is a commune and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in northwestern France. As of 2019, Argentan is the third largest municipality by population in the Orne department.

, in Normandy. His childhood friends included the painter

Fernand Léger Joseph Fernand Henri Léger (; February 4, 1881 – August 17, 1955) was a French painting, painter, sculpture, sculptor, and film director, filmmaker. In his early works he created a personal form of cubism (known as "tubism") which he gradually ...

. The young Mare had a passion for drawing, and decided to go to Paris to study art and design. In 1904, he enrolled at the School of Decorative Arts, and also took courses at the

Académie Julian The () was a private art school for painting and sculpture founded in Paris, France, in 1867 by French painter and teacher Rodolphe Julian (1839–1907). The school was active from 1868 through 1968. It remained famous for the number and qual ...

. In 1906, he showed his paintings and designs at the Salon des indépendants. In the following years, he participated in the Salon d'Automne, where he showed works along with those of his friends Roger de La Fresnaye, André Dunoyer de Segonzac, Maurice Marinot and

Marcel Duchamp Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp (, ; ; 28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968) was a French painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer whose work is associated with Cubism, Dada, Futurism and conceptual art. He is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Pica ...

. His designs in 1911 included very elaborate and stylized floral patterns for textiles, breaking away from traditional and Art Nouveau models.

Guillaume Apollinaire Guillaume Apollinaire (; ; born Kostrowicki; 26 August 1880 – 9 November 1918) was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist and art critic of Poland, Polish descent. Apollinaire is considered one of the foremost poets of the ...

commented on his skill in designing furniture. At the 1912 Salon d'Automne he and

Raymond Duchamp-Villon Raymond Duchamp-Villon (5 November 1876 – 9 October 1918) was a French sculptor. Life and art Duchamp-Villon was born Pierre-Maurice-Raymond Duchamp in Damville, Eure, in the Normandy region of France, the second son of Eugène and Lucie Duch ...

Jean Metzinger Jean Dominique Antony Metzinger (; 24 June 1883 – 3 November 1956) was a major 20th-century French painter, theorist, writer, critic and poet, who along with Albert Gleizes wrote the first theoretical work on Cubism. His earliest works, from 1 ...

Albert Gleizes Albert Gleizes (; 8 December 1881 – 23 June 1953) was a French artist, theoretician, philosopher, a self-proclaimed founder of Cubism and an influence on the School of Paris. Albert Gleizes and Jean Metzinger wrote the first major treatise on ...

, Marie Laurencin,

and Roger de La Fresnaye collaborated in the design of the '' La Maison Cubiste'', an architectural installation designed to display cubist paintings. Mare designed the colorful wallpaper, which featured stylized roses and floral patterns, along with upholstery, furniture and carpets with similar motifs. It was a distinct break from traditional decor, and became a prototype for

interior design. The installation attracted considerable attention, and some scandal, in the press.

War and camouflage

During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Mare worked on

camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...

for the French army, in a section of

camoufleurs A camoufleur or camouflage officer is a person who designed and implemented military camouflage in one of the world wars of the twentieth century. The term originally meant a person serving in a First World War French military camouflage unit. In ...

created by Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scevola and directed by his friend Dunoyer de Segonzac. He also worked for the British and Italian armies with his friend Fernand Léger and other painters including Forain, Charles Camoin, Charles Dufresne, Villon, and Marcoussis; and with the sculptors Henri Bouchard and Charles Despiau—and with stage designers from the theatre. Mare applied the principles of

disruptive coloration Disruptive coloration (also known as disruptive camouflage or disruptive patterning) is a form of camouflage that works by breaking up the outlines of an animal, soldier or military hardware with a strongly contrasting pattern. It is often com ...

camouflage using forms derived from

: bands of colour juxtaposed to prevent the eye from recognizing the shape of a gun barrel, for example. Colours are chosen to overlap with those of the surrounding landscape. At that time, Mare painted ten of his many watercolour sketchbooks in Cubist style. His sketched designs include hollow camouflaged armoured trees for use as observation posts. In 1916 Mare was badly wounded by shrapnel from a shell on the front in Picardy while helping to set up an observation post. On 10 August 1916 Mare was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

by King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...

of the United Kingdom.

Art Deco

At the end of the War, Mare returned quickly to his artistic work. In 1919, he was commissioned, along with Louis Süe and Gustave Louis Jaulmes, to design the decorations for the Champs-Élysées and the Arc-de-Triomphe to celebrate the first Bastille Day after the war. In 1919 he also joined with Louis Süe to create the ''Compagnie des Arts Française'', an interior design firm. He began producing designs for wallpapers, upholstery and other fabrics with his signature designs of baskets and wreaths of roses. Mare and Süe worked together for eight years, making some fifty different architectural ensembles, including interiors for the French Embassies in Warsaw and Washington, for the house of perfume manufacturer Jean Patou, and the grand salon of the ocean liner Ile-de-France. They were also invited by the composer

Maurice Ravel Joseph Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with Impressionism in music, Impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composer ...

to design sets and costumes for his new ballet, ''L'Heure Espanol'', at the

Paris Opera The Paris Opera ( ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be kn ...

. In 1926, André Mare was made a knight of the French Legion of Honour for his services to the decorative arts. In 1921, Mare and Süe published a manifesto called ''Architectures'', with illustrations by artists including Paul Vera, Roger de La Fresnaye, Marie Laurencin, and Charles Dufresne, and text by

Paul Valéry Ambroise Paul Toussaint Jules Valéry (; 30 October 1871 – 20 July 1945) was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. In addition to his poetry and fiction (drama and dialogues), his interests included aphorisms on art, history, letters, m ...

. They declared that their objective was to create ensembles which were "serious, logical, and welcoming." The Dining Room for Paul Girod (1920–21), (now in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris) was typical of the Mare and Süe Art Deco style; it featured exquisite craftsmanship and extremely expensive materials; the walls were covered with

rosewood Rosewood is any of a number of richly hued hardwoods, often brownish with darker veining, but found in other colours. It is hard, tough, strong, and dense. True rosewoods come from trees of the genus '' Dalbergia'', but other woods are often ca ...

and

mahogany Mahogany is a straight- grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus ''Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Universit ...

, and the lighting fixtures were set in a ceiling decorated with gold leaf. On the upper portion of the walls, Bas-reliefs in gilded stucco by Paul Vera illustrated "Summer" and "Autumn". The room also featured a fountain and faucets with sculptural decoration of gilded bronze. However, in his later years, his health, damaged by mustard gas during the war, began to fail. In 1927 André Mare decided to leave the ''Compagnie des Arts Français'' for health reasons, and instead devoted himself exclusively to painting. In 1930, he painted a large panel: ''The Funeral of Marshal Foch'' with landscapes inspired by his native Normandy. In November 1932, he died of tuberculosis, a result of serious mustard gas poisoning in the war. He is buried in the small cemetery of Lignerits in the

Auge In Greek mythology, Auge (; ; Modern Greek: "av-YEE"), was the daughter of Aleus the king of Tegea in Arcadia, and the virgin priestess of Athena Alea. She was also the mother of the hero Telephus by Heracles. Auge had sex with Heracles (ei ...

. In October–November 1933, a large body of his works was shown in the 23rd exhibition of the Société Normande de Peinture Moderne in the

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen () is an art museum in Rouen, in Normandy in north-western France. It was established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1801, and is housed in a building designed by and built between 1877, and 1888. Its collections in ...

.''L'Esprit français'', October 10, 1933, No. 85, page 216. File:"Abundance" Textile MET DP293540.jpg, Textile design ''Abundance'' by André Mare, (1911),

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...

File:La Maison Cubiste, Le Salon Bourgeois, Salon d'Automne, 1912, Paris.jpg, ''Le Salon Bourgeois'', designed by André Mare in '' La Maison Cubiste'' in the decorative arts section of the Salon d'Automne, 1912, Paris. File:"Draperies" Textile MET DP293587.jpg, Rose Pattern Textiles designed by Mare (c. 1919), Metropolitan Museum of Art File:André mare per compaignie des arts français, paravento les faune, parigi, 1920 ca..JPG, Paravent ''Les Faunes'' (c. 1920), Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris File:Rose Mousse MET DP105936.jpg, Rose Mousse pattern for upholstery, cotton and silk (1920), Metropolitan Museum of Art File:Buffet by Compagnie des Arts Francais (1920-21).jpg, Buffet by Mare and Suë made for Pierre Girod (1920–21), of mahogany, walnut, marble, and gilded bronze File:Paquebot Ile de France-Grand Salon de 1re classe.jpg, Grand Salon of the SS Île de France (1927)

Selected works in French museums

* ''La Dactylo'' (1922), oil on canvas, . * ''Intérieur de l'abbatiale à Bernay'', oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Bernay. * ''Satan. Esquisse de chevaux dans une écurie'' (1926), oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Bernay. * ''Le Jockey'' (1928), oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Bernay. * ''Vue de Caen. Le Port St-Jean et St-Pierre'' (1931), oil on canvas, Musée des beaux-arts de Bernay. * ''Le Haras du Pin'' (1924), oil on canvas, Musée d'art moderne de Troyes. * ''L'Étalon'' (1928), oil on canvas, Musée d'art moderne de Troyes. * ''Carnets de guerre'', (1914–1918), watercolour notebooks, Archives nationales (France). * ''Salle à manger Art Déco'', (1920–1921), furniture, textiles and at the

Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris The Musée des Arts Décoratifs (, English: ''Museum of Decorative Arts'') is a museum in Paris, France, dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of the decorative arts. Located in the city’s 1st arrondissement, the museum occupies the P ...

Bibliography

* * Léger, Fernand, ''Lettres à Charlotte et André Mare (1906–1932)'', correspondance présentée par Tristan Rondeau et préfacée par Michel Onfray. Textes d’introduction de Laurence Graffin, Jean-Christophe Orticoni, ''Yves'' Chevrefils Desbiolles et Benoît Noël, Sainte-Marguerite-des-Loges, Éditions BVR, 2019 *Mare, A. ''Cubisme et Camouflage, 1914–1918''. Musee municipal des Beaux-Arts, Bernay, 1998. (in French) * Mare, A. et Sue, L. ''André Mare et la Compagnie des Arts Français''. L'Ancienne Douane, Strasbourg, 1971. (in French) * Duncan, Alistair, ''Art déco'', Thames and Hudson, London (1988), (in French)

References

External links

*
Works by André Mare, Agence photographique de la réunion des Musées nationaux
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mare, Andre 1885 births 1932 deaths 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis 20th-century French painters 20th-century French male artists Camoufleurs Knights of the Legion of Honour French cubist artists French male painters People from Argentan Artists from Normandy French military personnel of World War I Tuberculosis deaths in France