Bathers

early life and artistic beginnings

charles laval, a french painter, was born in paris on march 17, 1861. his life was marked by an early association with prominent artists of his time, including paul gauguin and vincent van gogh. laval's artistic journey began in the synthetic movement and the pont-aven school, a group known for its primitivist themes and synthetist style.

artistic collaborations and influences

in 1886, laval collaborated with paul gauguin at pension gloanec in pont-aven, leading to their joint expedition to panama in search of an exoticism that could inspire art. this collaboration resulted in a series of landscapes by laval, often mistakenly attributed to gauguin.

• laval's self-portrait (1888, oil on canvas, 50 × 60 cm), now at the van gogh museum in amsterdam, was part of an exchange with van gogh, who praised its power and distinction.
• gauguin's still life with profile of laval (1886, at the indianapolis museum of art), is a testament to their artistic bond.
• laval's work in martinique, characterized by vibrant colors, has been mistakenly attributed to gauguin in the past.

legacy and tragic end

charles laval died on april 27, 1894, at the age of 32, due to complications from tuberculosis. his legacy, though overshadowed by his contemporaries, remains significant within the pont-aven school and synthetism.

• view laval's artworks on TopImpressionists, including his self-portrait and other synthetist masterpieces.
• explore the pont-aven school's primitivist themes and synthetist style on TopImpressionists's collection of paul gauguin, émile bernard, and other artists.
• discover more about laval's life and collaborations on TopImpressionists's artist biographies.

key works: - self-portrait (1888, van gogh museum, amsterdam) - laval's landscapes in martinique (various collections) influences: - paul gauguin - vincent van gogh - émile bernard movement: - synthetic - pont-aven school - synthetism symbolist painting and synthetism art movement on TopImpressionists.