Francis Picabia
Francis-Marie Martinez Picabia was an artist born in Paris on the 22/01/1879. Born to affluent parents in the golden age of modernisation and cultural expansion, known as Belle Époque. Growing up in this environment inspired him no doubt and his parents encouraged his passion for artistic expression, which led to him joining École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in the late 19th century.
He studied under Fernand Cormon in the same location that Van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec had studied years before. Initially, Francis was inspired by Impressionist paintings, including those of cathedrals, rivers, structures in Paris, and similar subjects. However, he felt that this style of art was somewhat dated and was enthralled by the avant-garde art movement in the early 20th century.
