Aristide Maillol

Aristide Maillol born in 1861 was a French sculptor, painter, and printmaker born in Banyuls-sur-Mer, a Catalan fishing village in the south of France. Initially trained as a painter and tapestry designer, he turned to sculpture in his late thirties due to deteriorating eyesight. Maillol's work is renowned for its serene depictions of the female form, emphasizing classical simplicity over dynamic movement. His sculptures influenced modern artists such as Henry Moore, Hans Arp, and Georges Braque. Maillol passed away in 1944 following a car accident near his hometown; his legacy endures through the Musée Maillol in Paris and the Musée Maillol in Banyuls-sur-Mer.