Tragically cut short. That’s how many describe the life of Nicolas de Stael. This Allée Nicolas de Staël in Paris remembers a painter who died far too young.
Born in Saint Petersburg in 1914 Nicolas de Staël’s family fled the Russian Revolution. They eventually settled in Belgium. There he studied art architecture and decoration. He later travelled extensively across Europe and North America. His travels broadened his artistic horizons. He met his first partner the painter Jeannine Guillou in Marrakech in 1937.
They moved to Paris. He briefly studied at Fernand Léger’s Académie Moderne. De Staël struggled with poverty. He painted constantly destroying many works in his pursuit of new styles. He painted alongside other artists at the Galerie L’Esquisse a front for a Resistance group. He befriended Georges Braque. His early Parisian work included a view of the Seine quays.
Jeannine Guillou died in 1946. De Staël married Françoise Chapouton that same year. A portrait of Guillou painted in 1941 is a testament to their relationship. His style evolved. He moved between figuration and abstraction constantly. He refused to be labeled. His work never conformed to dominant trends.
De Staël’s *Parc des Princes* from 1952 is a prime example of his unique style. At first glance it looks like pure abstraction. Upon closer inspection stylized soccer players emerge from the shapes and colors. He’d been inspired by a nighttime match at the stadium. The explosion of color and movement captured him.
In 1953 de Staël met Jeanne Polge. He fell deeply in love. His intense passion for her ignited a new phase in his painting. He began to paint and draw nudes. He dramatically changed his palette. He shifted to diluted pigments in vivid colors. He took Polge and his family on a trip to Sicily. The vibrant colors of Agrigento and other places are reflected in his paintings.
By the end of his life Nicolas de Staël was successful. His work was famous and sold for high prices in American galleries. Yet he was deeply unhappy. His relationship with Jeanne Polge ended. Harsh criticism from art collectors and critics hurt him deeply.
In 1955 he took his own life jumping from his studio in Antibes. He left behind a legacy of over a thousand paintings. The Allée Nicolas de Staël stands as a quiet reminder of a talented and troubled artist. A painter who sought beauty and truth even in the midst of despair.