Georges Jouve (1910 - 1964)

Georges Jouve was born in Fontenay-sous-Bois in 1910 and studied sculpture at the École Boulle in Paris, graduating in 1930. He initially worked as a theatre decorator before discovering ceramics during the Second World War, after escaping from a German prison camp and settling temporarily in Dieulefit. From the 1940s onwards, Jouve developed a highly recognisable approach to ceramic sculpture, combining strong silhouettes with bold glazes and incised or painted decoration. His work ranges from anthropomorphic vessels and animals to lamps, dishes and large sculptural forms. After establishing himself in Provence, he continued to work in ceramics until his death in Aix-en-Provence in 1964.