Roussel, Ker-Xavier

1867 – 1944
French

Born François Xavier Roussel (but known since childhood as Ker) in Northeastern France, he began his art school studies in Paris at the age of 15 and soon thereafter became friends with the group of young men who would become known as “Les Nabis”.   At first, Roussel painted still lifes and landscapes, but he eventually gravitated toward a lighter palate and more mythological themes.  Roussel credits the work of Paul Cézanne and a life-long love of classical poetry for this shift in focus.

Roussel successfully interpreted classical themes into large scale decorations for both private and public spaces, most famously the stage curtain of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and a thirty-six-foot-long mural for the Palais de Chaillot.

Despite his colorful and bucolic imagery, Roussel suffered from depression and was hospitalized for several years.  Though the popularity of Les Nabis in general and Roussel in particular declined after his death, there has been a strong resurgence in interest after a few very popular museum exhibitions in both Europe and the U.S.