New-York VII, 2008

Claude Schürr   Master Artists

Claude Schürr (1921–2014) was a French painter and lithographer of the School of Paris, recognized for his ability to merge cubism and impressionism, navigating between abstraction and figuration. 

Born in the Place des Vosges in Paris, Schürr was the son of Julien Schürr-Linovski, a Polish industrialist, and Suzanne Weissenthaner, a native of Nancy. From the age of seven, he began painting, asserting, "I knew I would paint; the idea of doing anything else never crossed my mind." 

After attending the Pasteur High School in Neuilly-sur-Seine, he continued his education at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris from 1938 to 1942, studying under Nicolas Untersteller and Fernand Sabatté. 

In 1952, he became a professor at the Académie Julian in Paris and later taught at the École nationale supérieure des arts appliqués et des métiers d'art in 1956. He also served on the jury of the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts from 1962 to 1968 and co-founded the Académie de Port-Royal with Jean-Maxime Relange in 1969. 

His work was characterized by a vibrant color palette and dynamic use of light, often inspired by Mediterranean landscapes. He depicted scenes of daily life, urban landscapes, and seascapes while also exploring abstract compositions. 

Schürr was also involved in bibliophily, illustrating books such as Le voyageur sur la terre by Julien Green (1956) and La Jument verte by Marcel Aymé (1965). 

He was honored as official painter of the Navy in 1981 and official painter of Air and Space in 1986.

His works have been exhibited in prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d'Automne, and the Charpentier Gallery.

Claude Schürr left behind a rich body of work, reflecting his commitment to modernity and light, and remains an important figure in 20th-century French art.