Georges de Feure

Key facts

Lived

1868–1943, French

Movements

• Art Nouveau
• Symbolism

Works held in

7 museums

Plan your visit to see Georges de Feure →

• What is Georges de Feure known for?+

  Georges de Feure is known for his Art Nouveau work, which caught the eye of Siegfried Bing. Bing commissioned him to design entire rooms for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. He was also, apparently, the first designer to use neon lighting in theatrical production, at the Folies Bergere.
• What is Georges de Feure's most famous work?+

  Georges de Feure (born Georges Joseph Van Sluyters in Paris, 1868) was a multidisciplinary artist of the Art Nouveau movement. The son of a Dutch architect, he began his career as an actor, costume designer, and interior decorator. In 1890, de Feure joined Jules Chéret's studio, where he designed posters and illustrations for periodicals such as the Figaro illustré and the Courrier français. He exhibited widely, including at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Cent, and the Salon de la Rose-Croix. A Galerie des Artistes Modernes exhibition in 1894 displayed his paintings and watercolours, which showed Symbolist influences. His work often reinterpreted feminine grace. Around 1900, de Feure shifted his focus to the decorative arts. Siegfried Bing selected him, along with Eugène Gaillard and Edouard Colonna, to design pieces for Bing's pavilion at the Universal Exposition. De Feure also created paintings and glass panels for the building's façades. Later, he designed furniture, ceramics, and even airplane models. He designed sets and costumes for theatrical productions in London, where he lived from 1913. He designed a pavilion for the Decorative Arts Exposition in 1925 and a bedroom for the International Exposition in 1937. De Feure died in 1943.
• What should I know about Georges de Feure's prints?+

  Georges de Feure (born Georges Joseph van Sluijters, 1868-1943) was a Dutch-French artist associated with the Symbolist movement and later with Art Nouveau. Although he worked across media, including painting, furniture, and ceramics, he is well known for his graphic work, particularly colour lithographs. De Feure's prints often feature elegant women in stylised settings. These works display a characteristic Art Nouveau aesthetic, with flowing lines and muted colours. He explored themes of femininity, mystery, and the relationship between art and nature. During the late 19th century, original prints gained importance as an artistic medium. Artists began signing and numbering their prints, differentiating them from commercial reproductions. This practice allowed them to reach a wider audience because prints could be produced in greater quantities and distributed at a lower cost than unique works. De Feure's prints participated in this movement, making his aesthetic available to a broader public.
• What style or movement did Georges de Feure belong to?+

  Georges de Feure (born Georges Joseph Van Sluyters in Paris, 1868) is considered a representative of the Art Nouveau movement. He was a multifaceted artist, working as a painter, graphic artist, costume and set designer, and interior decorator. He designed furniture, ceramics, and even airplane models. De Feure died in 1943. De Feure's association with Art Nouveau is apparent not only in his chosen themes but also in his multidisciplinary approach. His paintings and watercolours were influenced by Symbolism, as well as Charles Baudelaire and Aubrey Beardsley. Siegfried Bing, an art dealer and collector, selected de Feure to produce pieces for his pavilion at the Universal Exposition in 1900. De Feure also designed paintings and glass panels for the building's façades. His work appeared in exhibitions such as the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon des Cent.
• What techniques or materials did Georges de Feure use?+

  Georges de Feure worked across several media, including painting, printmaking and design. As a painter, he is known for using oil paint, sometimes in combination with other materials to create varied textures. While specific details of his painting technique are scarce, the practice of the period involved a sequence of steps. The composition was outlined on a prepared canvas, and modelling indicated, often with a reddish-brown "sauce". Local colour, light and shade were laid in, and this sketch elaborated using a full range of tones. The final stage refined this process further. The materials available included canvases prepared with a ground, traditionally made with a layer of glue followed by a double ground, the first coloured with raw umber and red brown, the second with lead white and carbon black. Pigments were mixed with oil, such as nut oil, and turpentine was sometimes used to help layers dry.
• What was Georges de Feure known for?+

  Georges de Feure (born Georges Joseph Van Sluyters in Paris, 1868; died 1943) was a Dutch-Belgian artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement. He used the pseudonym Georges de Feure. He worked across a range of media, including painting, graphic design, and decorative arts. De Feure's work often featured themes associated with women, celebrating them with delicate lines and sensuality. De Feure began his career as an actor, costume designer, and interior decorator in Paris. In 1890, he worked in the studio of Jules Chéret, a poster artist. During this period, he designed posters and produced illustrations for periodicals, such as the Figaro illustré and the Courrier français. He participated in various exhibitions and salons, including the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon des Cent. In 1894, the Galerie des Artistes Modernes held an exhibition of his paintings and watercolours, influenced by Symbolism and the work of Charles Baudelaire and Aubrey Beardsley. Around 1900, de Feure turned to the decorative arts. Siegfried Bing selected de Feure to produce pieces for his pavilion at the Universal Exposition. De Feure also designed furniture, ceramics, and other decorative objects. In 1909, he founded an aircraft design company. Later, he designed costumes and sets for theatrical productions in London. In 1923, de Feure oversaw the interior decoration of Madeleine Vionnet’s couture house.
• When did Georges de Feure live and work?+

  Georges de Feure was the pseudonym of Georges Joseph Van Sluyters, who was born in Paris in 1868. His father was a Dutch architect, and his mother was Belgian. De Feure began his career in Paris, working as an actor, costume designer, and interior decorator. In 1890, he joined the studio of Jules Chéret, a poster artist. During this time, de Feure designed posters and created illustrations for publications such as the *Figaro illustré* and the *Courrier français*. He participated in numerous exhibitions, including the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Cent, the Salon de la Rose-Croix, the Salon d’Automne, and exhibitions of Impressionist and Symbolist painters. In 1894, the Galerie des Artistes Modernes held an exhibition of his paintings and watercolours. Around 1900, de Feure shifted his focus to the decorative arts. Siegfried Bing selected him to design pieces for his pavilion at the Universal Exposition. De Feure also designed paintings and glass panels for the building's exterior. He designed decorative paintings for the Restaurant Konss. He designed furniture, ceramics, and even airplane models. In 1913, he relocated to London, where he worked on theatrical productions. He returned to Paris and designed furniture in the Art Deco style, as well as costume and set designs. He died in 1943.
• Where can I see Georges de Feure's work?+

  Georges de Feure's works can be viewed in museums across Europe and North America. In France, his pieces are held at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, as well as the Musée des Beaux-Arts in both Nancy and Nantes. Other European locations include the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon, the Brangwyn Museum in Bruges, and the Musée Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique in Brussels. In the United States, notable institutions with collections include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida. Additionally, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, also possesses works by de Feure.
• Where was Georges de Feure from?+

  Georges de Feure's origins are somewhat complex. He was born Georges Joseph van Sluijters in Paris, France, on 6 September 1868. His father was a Dutch decorator, and his mother was Belgian. Though born in France, he seems to have maintained close ties to both the Netherlands and Belgium throughout his life. De Feure adopted his pseudonym early in his career. He explored various artistic styles, including Symbolism and Art Nouveau. He produced paintings, posters, and designs for furniture, theatre sets, and stained glass. Later in his career, de Feure worked as a designer for Siegfried Bing's gallery, Maison de l'Art Nouveau, in Paris. He also exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants. His diverse background likely contributed to his international outlook and stylistic range.
• Who did Georges de Feure influence?+

  Georges de Feure (born Georges Joseph Van Sluyters in Paris, 1868) was a multidisciplinary artist associated with Art Nouveau and Symbolism. His work encompassed painting, watercolour, graphic design, and the decorative arts. De Feure's paintings and watercolours, exhibited from 1894, showed the influence of Symbolism, Charles Baudelaire, and Aubrey Beardsley. Siegfried Bing, an art dealer, selected de Feure to produce pieces for his pavilion at the Universal Exposition in 1900. De Feure designed paintings and glass panels for the building's facade, and also designed for Limoges porcelain. De Feure's elegant reinterpretation of feminine grace was a defining aspect of his style. His paintings, posters, and furniture designs often centred on themes associated with women. His association with the Symbolist movement, and his work in the decorative arts, may have had an impact on artists such as Alphonse Mucha. De Feure’s designs for Edmond Lachenal, a ceramicist, also show his wide-ranging influence. De Feure died in 1943, leaving behind a varied body of work.
• Who influenced Georges de Feure?+

  Georges de Feure's artistic development occurred during a period of diverse artistic movements. One can see the impact of several styles and individual artists on his work. The Symbolist movement, with its emphasis on dreamlike imagery and the exploration of inner emotions, had a significant influence. The Symbolists often explored themes of mythology, the exotic, and the mysterious, elements that appear in de Feure's work. De Feure's connection to the Symbolists also links him to artists such as Gustave Moreau. Moreau, a French painter, employed a distinctive painting method that incorporated a flowing style, symbolic elements, and jewel-like details. Moreau's work explored romantic imagery of myth, history, the Bible, and the bizarre.
• Who was Georges de Feure?+

  Georges de Feure (1868-1943) was a Parisian artist who worked across painting, graphic design, and the decorative arts. Born Georges Joseph Van Sluyters, the son of a Dutch architect and a Belgian mother, he adopted the pseudonym Georges de Feure. He began his career in Paris as an actor, costume designer, and interior decorator. Around 1890, he worked in the studio of Jules Chéret, a poster designer. During this period, de Feure designed posters and illustrations for periodicals, including the Figaro illustré and the Courrier français. De Feure participated in exhibitions such as the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, the Salon des Cent, the Salon de la Rose-Croix, the Salon d’Automne, and international exhibitions. In 1894, the Galerie des Artistes Modernes held an exhibition of his paintings and watercolours. His work reinterpreted feminine grace with elegance. Around 1900, de Feure turned to the decorative arts. Siegfried Bing selected him to produce pieces for Bing’s pavilion at the Universal Exposition, along with Eugène Gaillard and Edouard Colonna. De Feure also produced paintings and glass panels for the façades. He designed decorative paintings for the Restaurant Konss and was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur. He designed ceramics for Edmond Lachenal. In 1909, he founded an aircraft design company. In 1923, de Feure oversaw the interior decoration of Madeleine Vionnet’s couture house and was promoted to Officier de la Légion d’honneur.