Yvonne Canu

Born on November 9, 1921 in Meknés (Morocco)

After studying in Paris, Yvonne Canu prepared Decorative Arts which she was obliged to give up for family reasons. During the war she was engaged as a nurse in the 2^nd Moroccan division and at the end of the conflict, went to Paris where she stayed at Youky Foujita's place.

There she met many artists, among them Elisee Maclet who took her to Montmartre to paint landscapes. Thereafter, Foujita taught her drawing and made her discover impressionism. Interested by cubism, she attended Zadkine's class every Thursday at the Grande Chaumiére.

During the exhibit of American collections at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, she is deeply impressed by Seurat's masterpiece, La Grande Jatte ”and is in ecstasy over this masterwork. Back at her place, she paints a small divisionist painting (2 figures) for which she immediately finds a client. This encouraged her to continue this way.