Marcel Bloch

Marcel BLOCH (1882-1966)

Dancers in Front of the Moulin Rouge, 1961 Oil on canvas, signed lower right Carved wooden frame

Canvas dimensions: 50x61cm
Framed dimensions: 70x81cm In this lively scene, Marcel Bloch captures the essence of Parisian partying, emblematic of the Belle Époque, by placing three elegant figures in the foreground against a background dominated by the silhouette of the Moulin Rouge. The expressive style and vibrant colors perfectly capture the excitement of Montmartre evenings. The composition is enlivened by the bright, contrasting colors: the brilliant yellow of a can-can dancer's skirt, the flamboyant red touches of her boots and headpiece, the deep purple of the man in the top hat's outfit, and the powdery pink hues of the second, more romantic dancer. The background, painted in hazier tones—cool greens, blue-grays—highlights the figures while suggesting a nocturnal or chiaroscuro atmosphere. Marcel Bloch, whose works are rare but sought-after, follows in the tradition of Parisian painters sensitive to the world of entertainment, cabaret, and dance. He is distinguished by an energetic style of painting, with spontaneous brushstrokes and stylized silhouettes, reminiscent of works by Paul Colin or Jean-Gabriel Domergue. The facial expressions, both charming and theatrical, reinforce the festive and somewhat whimsical aspect of the scene.

Biography:
Marcel Bloch (1882-1966) was a French painter, lithographer, etcher, pastel artist, portraitist, and illustrator. He studied at the École nationale supérieure des Arts décoratifs under Paul Renouard and Charles Lameire, where he graduated with a first prize. He initially worked in advertising. He produced posters for motorcycles, motor oil, tires, clothing, and more, and created fashion brochures. A combatant during the First World War, he was listed in the guestbook of the soldiers of Verdun. From the mid-1920s, he developed an easily recognizable style, inspired by libertine gallant scenes from the 18th century adapted to Art Deco taste. Typical are his attractive female characters, the embodiment of the elegant, frivolous, and mischievous Parisian woman reminiscent of the contemporary Mistinguett. He specialized in etching. He provided plates to L'Estampe moderne. The Parisian engraver and publisher Philippe Rosen distributed his works, especially small formats such as menus. He was a member of the Salon des Indépendants (from 1909 and then regularly from 1926 to 1939) and the Salon des Artistes français (from 1913). He exhibited at the Salon des Humoristes. He sat on the committee of the Société des Dessinateurs Humoristes (Society of Cartoonists).

During the 1930s, he also drew a few illustrations for detective novels.

During the Occupation, he lived in hiding in Paris but "subjected to the racial laws." During the second half of the 1940s, he produced postcards, some of which featured military humor or praised French agricultural production.

He also illustrated numerous books (Balzac, Flaubert, Musset, George Sand, Alexandre Dumas, Erckmann-Chatrian, Kipling, André Maurois, etc.), several of which appeared to be aimed at children. He even worked on school textbooks.

A substitute teacher, he received the silver medal from the City of Paris in 1955.

He was buried on April 21, 1966, in the Montparnasse Cemetery. His epitaph reads "Moïse Bloch - 1882-1966."

Public Collections
Public authorities acquired certain works by Marcel Bloch:

La Cigarette, 1920 (acquired by the State);
La Barricade de Belleville, 1945 (acquired by the Fine Arts Department of the City of Paris);
2 engravings intended for the Chamber of Notaries (Musée Carnavalet);
Album of Shadows - Towards the Abyss, inspired by the First World War (Bibliothèque Nationale de France).
Artistic Circles
Marcel Bloch belonged to several artistic circles:

Indépendants (member since 1909);
Salon of French Artists (member since 1913);
Salon of Humorists;
Society of Cartoonists (committee member);
Society of Le Cornet Artistic Society (committee member).
Exhibitions
Marcel Bloch participated in numerous exhibitions:

1920: Paintings from the Front;
1921: Columbia University;
1921: University of San Francisco;
1924: Lyon;
1929: Brussels;
1929: Beauvais;
1930: Reims;
1931: Paris - International Colonial Exposition;
1931: Brussels (University);
1931: Riga;
1947: Lyon;
1953: Bordeaux;
1955 to 1958: Périgueux.

HONOURS
Marcel Bloch received various awards:

1927: Officer of Public Instruction;
1931: Gold Medal at the International Colonial Exposition;
1955: Silver Medal of the City of Paris;
Medal of the League of Education;