“Why name a street after an artist?” I ask you, as we stand at the entrance of Rue Léon Jamin. This street in Nantes pays tribute to the Belgian post-impressionist painter Léon Jamin. He was born in Liège in 1872 and died there in 1944. Jamin was known for his landscape paintings. He especially painted the regions around the Kempen and Ardennes Forests.
Rue Léon Jamin is in the city center of Nantes. It is a paved pedestrian street. The street connects Rue Edmond-Prieur to Place Saint-Similien. Rue Léon Jamin does not intersect any other streets today.
Let’s delve into the history of Rue Léon Jamin. Until the early 20th century, Rue Léon Jamin was longer. It once extended to Place de Bretagne. The street received its current name after a city council decision.
During World War II, the area around Place de Bretagne suffered damage. Bombings on September 16 and 23, 1943, devastated the area. During the city’s reconstruction, the section south of Rue Edmond-Prieur disappeared. It became part of the building that houses Nantes’ main post office. The north side retained buildings that survived the bombings. That’s why Rue Léon Jamin now starts at number 26. It ends at number 45. This is near the post office buildings.
Léon Jamin, the artist honored by this street, was a pupil of Carpentier. He also studied under Adrien de Witte at the Academy of Liège. Jamin also traveled and worked in Spain and Provence. His paintings often featured rustic rooftops and prominent treelines. His works are exhibited at the Musée de l’art wallon in Liège.
So, as we walk along Rue Léon Jamin, remember the artist. Think of his landscapes. Think of the history beneath our feet. It is a story of art, war, and urban transformation.