Perhaps Marcel Fournier would appreciate the irony. He sought inspiration around the world. Yet, here we are at Square Marcel Fournier. This square is named after him.
Who was Marcel Fournier? He was not just one man. There are a few Marcel Fourniers. This makes the story a bit more interesting.
Let’s start with Marcel Fournier the businessman. He was a co-founder of Carrefour. Carrefour is a French retail giant. He helped start the first hypermarket in France. This Marcel Fournier was born in Annecy. He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He was also active in the press. At one point he controlled newspapers. These included L’Aurore and Le Dauphiné Libéré. He retired from Carrefour in 1979. This Marcel Fournier sounds like a fascinating and influential man.
But there is also Marcel Fournier the painter. He was a long-distance sailor. Born in Chantelle in 1869. He lived in Voussac. His art remained largely unknown during his life. He traveled the world as a merchant marine captain. He visited Suez, Rio de Janeiro and the Persian Gulf. He also saw the Indian Ocean and the China Sea. These travels heavily influenced his art.
Marcel Fournier the painter exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants. He sold some paintings. Maybe about a hundred. He is listed in the Bénézit. This calls him a landscape painter. He was known for capturing the atmosphere of the Creuse region.
Fournier studied at the Académie Julian in Paris. He was interested in photography. Yet, he always painted from nature. His early works resembled Corot, Millet and Monet. These showed landscapes from Aumance and Crozant. Later, his paintings showed exotic colors. These recalled Cézanne and Gauguin. He painted landscapes of Cassis and Marseille. Also, views of Bushir in Iran and Singapore. His style leaned towards Fauvism and Orientalism.
He joined the army during World War I. He was 46 years old. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his bravery. During the war, he sketched scenes from the front lines. These sketches were his last creative works. He died on March 2 1917 at the age of 48.
Marcel Fournier’s work is linked to his nomadic lifestyle. He painted the world as he saw it. Square Marcel Fournier might honor this artistic spirit. It might also honor the entrepreneurial one. Perhaps it honors both men. It is something to consider as you stroll through Square Marcel Fournier.