MARCEL DYF
French, 1899 – 1985

Marcel Dyf was born in Paris on the 7th of October, 1899. In his youth he showed a remarkable ability for painting and at the age of 23 he took the step of becoming a professional artist and devoted himself entirely to painting. Dyf like many other young French artists was heavily influenced by Pierre A. Renoir. Dyf took the influence of Renoir and developed his own definite style. He soon became well known not only in France but also in America, Algiers, Canada, England and Germany.

During his early career, Marcel Dyf started exhibiting at the Salon des d’Automore and Salon des Tulleries (at the Louvre). His acceptance was immediate and his career became more exciting than ever. It was during these exhibitions that Marcel Dyf was introduced to Frost and Reed of London. Frost and Reed’s interest may have been the single most important event in his career. It was through them and their contacts that he began exhibiting in London, New York, Dallas, San Francisco and many other international cities. Among his most successful exhibitions were those at the famous House of Petrides in Paris in 1941, 1951 and 1953. He was greatly honored in 1950 by being asked to exhibit in the National Display at the Carnegie Institute. In addition to being noted for his portraits and bouquets of flowers, his inspiration for many compositions often came from his wife 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 purist 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 the paintings of Marcel Dyf there is no 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 are trees, human figures, fields of grain or vibrant flower gardens.

His power of suggestion is strong. He painted not only a beautiful scene but also gave insight into himself through his brushwork and use of color. His pleasant looseness with the brush puts the viewer in a relaxed mood, allowing one to take time in fully appreciating each painting. A true impressionist in every sense of the word, Dyf stands with the masters of his field. He has influenced numerous artists and has set a standard for contemporary Impressionists to achieve. His death in 1985 marked the passing of one of the last true impressionists of our era.