In 1882, Georges Seurat developed a technique that revolved towards a new approach to colours. Influenced by the scientific theories of O-N Rood in New York, the artist would strictly use a divisionist technique consisting of applying colours in small coloured dots. 

In 1884, the Société of the Artiste Indépendants was founded and their first collective exhibition was organized in the Pavillion of Paris, on the Avenue Champs Elysées. The founder of the Société was the artist Paul Signac.

In 1887, Luce joined the Société des Indépendants and would exhibit six works at the annual exhibition.

His participation in the exhibition would lead to his meeting with Camille Pissarro with whom he shared social ideas, and the artist would introduce Luce to the Neo-Impressionist painters Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and Henri-Edmond Cross. They had a profound impact on Luce's artistic practice in the early 1890s.

Luce experimented with the divided touch from 1887 to 1897 which had a profound impact on his works and painted under Signac's influence some of his well-known compositions like La Seine à Herblay and a series of paintings depicting Paris scenes.

Throughout his career, Portraiture became an essential aspect of Luce’s practice. His ability and his sensibility to render details, and in handling compositions was evident in works such as the portrait of the art critic Félix Fénéon, and the paintings of his friends and family.
Luce, a humanist painter, was highly estimated by his peers who appreciated his uprightness, and genuine character.

Maximilien Luce

Tabarant

1928

BUY HERE

Maximilien Luce: Néo-Impressioniste: Rétrospective

by Marina Ferretti 

2014

Maximilien Luce: The Human Condition

2000

Maximilien Luce, Giverny

The Burlington Magazine

by Stephen Brown

READ HERE

Maximilien Luce à Orsay

Christian Chevandier

Sciences-Po Paris

READ HERE