– Maurice GOTTLOB was born in Paris on July 7, 1885.
He diligently attended the courses at the National School of Fine Arts, as well as the famous Germain Pillon schools, simultaneously making his first attempts at sculpture with terracotta pieces. He sculpted Mistinguett, Fragson, Max Linder, Nick Winter, Prince Rigadin, Charlie Chaplin.
He came under the influence of the great Rodin, who was blunt: “I do not train
students. Persevere in painting. I admire what you do.”
From then on, he set a direct course towards the easel. He frequented the suburbs,
Belleville, République, the dance halls, painted live, under the arbors, at dances, on the quays. He excelled in humorous caricature, exhibiting with Robida, Domergue, Grün, Hermann Paul.
The Great War tempered his palette. It became austere. He evoked drama and desolation: “Ruins at Tracy-le-Mont”, “Trees Felled by the Enemy”, “Graves at Bailly”, “The Church of Tracy-le-Val.” His reputation grew. Ten paintings were acquired by the Directorate of Fine Arts and the Museums of the City of Paris.
Yet, like Renoir before him, he moved to Provence – seeking
the incomparable light, the bright tones, the silver olive trees, the serene calm of the hinterland. There he would also create many landscapes and portraits of figures from Mougins, enchanting wealthy collectors who came to winter there.
His sensitivity gradually blossomed towards landscapes and flowers. His technique became ennobled. His knife paintings are magnificent. The backgrounds are as important as the foregrounds. The viewer enters a garden with dazzling, stunning colors, with the most harmonious contrasts. His paintings, freed from all theories, became masterpieces.
Maurice GOTTLOB lived in Mougins from 1924 to 1960 and passed away in Grasse in
1970, leaving his children an incomparable collection of more than a hundred paintings.
– Message from Richard GALY
Mayor of Mougins
Thanks to the support of Georges and Jean-Pierre GOTTLOB, the town of Mougins
organizes an annual exhibition of their father Maurice’s works, a famous painter, Mouginois at heart, born in Paris in 1885. This artist moreover created many landscapes and portraits of figures from Mougins, enchanting wealthy collectors who came to winter in our city.
Additionally, with the gift that his sons generously made to the City, we are particularly proud to have a Maurice GOTTLOB museum in Mougins. Visitors can thus discover throughout the year, the works of the most renowned local town crier, not only paintings but also charcoals and sculptures, as he was a complete artist.
Maurice GOTTLOB belongs to the history and identity of our community. The town of Mougins had to pay tribute to him by creating a museum dedicated to his talent. It is done, for our greatest pleasure and for yours.
