Several notable British artists maintained strong ties to France throughout the 20th century, drawing inspiration from its varied landscapes and cultural scenes. Their experiences ranged from bohemian Parisian quarters to rural southern regions, reflecting diverse artistic engagements and evolutions.
Barbara Nicholson lived in Paris until 1938, residing in a well-to-do part of the city’s 16th arrondissement along the Seine. Her paintings from this period often featured views of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Citroën factory. Nicholson’s experience contrasted markedly with that of John, a more bohemian figure based in Montparnasse. During her time in Paris, she was influenced by interactions with artists such as Piet Mondrian, which encouraged her to experiment across figurative and abstract styles. Nicholson later described this as a creatively exhilarating phase.
The Bloomsbury Group, influential in British art and literature, also found artistic sanctuary in France beyond Paris. Roger Fry, a key figure who coined the term “post-impressionism,” and his contemporaries favored the rural, coastal region of Provence, particularly the small port town of Cassis near Marseille. Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, both central Bloomsbury members, lived in a modest vineyard-surrounded cottage outside Cassis. Their home also served as a studio and was a gathering place for figures including Bell’s sister, the novelist Virginia Woolf.
In 1938, the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington fled Paris with her partner, Max Ernst, relocating to Saint-Martin d’Ardèche, a quiet riverside village. There, she purchased a farmhouse embellished with her own surrealist bas-relief sculptures. Despite describing this time as idyllic, the outbreak of World War II forced Ernst’s internment and Carrington’s eventual flight to Spain, followed by resettlement in Mexico.
Francis Bacon, recognized for his intense and innovative paintings, moved to Paris in 1974 and lived there until 1987. He became the first living artist after Picasso to receive a retrospective at the Grand Palais in 1971, cementing his prominence in the French art world. During this period, Bacon hosted and influenced younger artists, including David Hockney.
Hockney, who split much of his early career between California and Europe, admired French modernists such as Picasso and Matisse. Notably, his 1972 painting “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” was inspired by the villa of British film director Tony Richardson on the Côte d’Azur. From 1974 to 1978, Hockney resided in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district of Paris, then a fading bohemian hub that nonetheless retained an artistic legacy. He fondly recalled daily routines that involved local cafés and social encounters with fellow creatives.
More recently, Hockney settled in Normandy, near the village of Beuvron-en-Auge, recognized as one of France’s most picturesque villages. Moving there just before the COVID-19 pandemic, he experienced a highly productive period during lockdown. His 2020 series “The Arrival of Spring, Normandy” received critical acclaim, leading to a major retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris the following year.
These artists’ varied connections with France highlight the country’s enduring appeal as a site for creative exploration, from urban studios to rural retreats, shaping both British and international modern art.