Marcel Dreyfus Dyf

Cowley Abbott Auction House Biography and Notes

Marcel Dyf was born in Paris on October 7, 1899. He became a professional artist at the age of 23 and devoted himself entirely to painting. He soon became known not only in France but also in England, America, Canada, Germany, and Algeria. Among his most successful exhibitions were those at the famous Petrides Gallery in Paris in 1949, 1951, and 1953. He was greatly honored in 1950 by being asked to exhibit in the National Display Gallery at the Carnegie Institute. Today Dyf has an international reputation. Noted for his portraits and floral still life paintings, his inspiration for many compositions often came from his wife Claudine who posed for him and allowed him to immortalize the spirit of womanhood. His pastoral scenes capture French countryside with unique color, light and vibrancy. For an artist to be considered an "Impressionist" in the purest meaning of the word he must know how to transfer his personal feelings to the canvas. Through the application of color this transference is accomplished. In Dyf's paintings there is no re-touching, no re-working. Instead his brushwork is fluid and "first-time" perfect. One can feel the impact of his colors, i.e. "feel" the wind in his landscapes, "see" the ripples of waves in his waterfronts, and "sense" the various textures of the subjects he paints whether they be trees, human figures, fields of grain or vibrant flower gardens.