Henri Martin began his artistic studies at the L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse. In 1879, he moved to Paris to study under Jean Paul Laurens, and his early academic style earned him a medal from the conservative Paris Salon at the age of 23. Shortly after, Martin was awarded a trip to Italy, which profoundly affected his artistic development. While studying the works of the Italian masters Giotto and Masaccio, Martin acquired a new perspective on light, leading him to abandon his classical training and fall under the influence of the not-so-academic Impressionists.
Utilizing and experimenting with various Impressionistic techniques, Martin created important and well-received Divisionist, Symbolist and Pointillist paintings. His work was so admired that it earned him the Grand Prize at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900. Martin remained an independent artist, refusing numerous contracts from successful Paris dealers. His works can be found in museums around the world including the Muse´e d’Orsay and the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
