Rotund Man in Red Coat Side Profile

Jacques Villon, born Gaston Émile Duchamp on July 31, 1875, in Damville, Normandy, France, was a pivotal figure in the development of modern art. To distinguish himself from his renowned siblings—Marcel Duchamp, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, and Suzanne Duchamp—he adopted the pseudonym Jacques Villon, paying homage to the medieval poet François Villon. Initially studying law at the University of Paris, Villon's passion for art led him to contribute illustrations and cartoons to Parisian newspapers, including "Le Courrier français." In 1906, he relocated to Puteaux, a suburb of Paris, where he immersed himself in painting and printmaking, drawing inspiration from Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Villon was instrumental in the Cubist movement, co-founding the Section d'Or group in 1912 alongside artists like Francis Picabia and Fernand Léger. This collective emphasized geometric proportions in art, reflecting their interest in mathematical harmony. His participation in the 1913 Armory Show in New York significantly bolstered his international reputation, introducing European modernism to American audiences. Throughout his career, Villon received numerous accolades, including the Carnegie Prize in 1950 and the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale in 1956. In 1955, he was commissioned to design stained-glass windows for the Metz Cathedral in France.

Villon's artistic legacy is marked by his innovative approach to Cubism, particularly in printmaking, where he developed a unique graphic language distinct from contemporaries like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. His works are housed in major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. In the art market, his painting "L'Acrobate" (1913) achieved a notable milestone, selling for $1,296,000 at Sotheby's in May 2004. Jacques Villon passed away on June 9, 1963, in Puteaux, leaving behind a profound impact on modern art.