Henri Le Sidaner was an Impressionist painter who spent the first few years of his life with his family in the West Indies. His family returned to France in 1872, and in 1877 began to study with Alexandre Desmit. In 1882 he began studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris studying under Cabanel. Some of his earliest influences were Whistler and Carrier, and though he typically created Impressionist pieces, he also worked in Pointillism and Symbolism throughout his career.

Feeling restrained by his classical teachings at the school, Le Sidaner would often travel to the northern coasts of France to paint on his own. The figurative paintings that he created while he was there were exhibited at the Salon des Artistes and were met with great reviews. By 1891, Le Sidaner had earned a medal at the salon as well as a scholarship to travel to Italy and Holland. Later on, he would also serve as a professor at the Academie des Beaux-Arts.

After 1900, Le Sidaner moved away from figurative painting, and focused on landscapes and cityscapes. Some of these paintings had a dark, lonely tone, especially his scenes of city and country homes, bathed in moonlight. Le Sidaner became known for these somber scenes, and continued to paint for the rest of his life. He also added Symbolist elements to his paintings, which were often included in these empty and isolated paintings.

In 1930, he was awarded the Legion of Honor, and today his work is housed all over Europe. Despite being a lesser-known artist, Le Sidaner made great strides as an artist in his time painting his haunting twilight scenes. Perhaps it is because he strayed from the typical style of the academic school that he is not as well known as his contemporaries, but he remains a master in his own right today. Still wondering about an Impressionist landscape or city scene hanging in your home? Contact us to find out…it could be by Henri Le Sidaner.