“I was born from and for painting…” Èdouard Cortès

Èdouard Leon Cortès was born in Lagny, France on August 6, 1882 into a family of artists. Cortès’ father, Antonio Cortès, who was born is Seville, Spain was a successful painter for the royal court in Spain. Èdouard, the youngest of the siblings, exhibited an exceptional artistic talent. Cortès attended a private elementary school until the age of 13. Èdouard Cortès would continue his artistic training at his father’s Lagny studio receiving encouragement from his brother, sister and local artists. In 1899, at the age of 16, Èdouard Cortès exhibited his first work at the Société des Artistes Français entitled La Labour, of a farmer driving a horse-drawn plow with a god by his side, which revealed the influence of his father’s animal paintings. The work was well received by the critics and the public – helping establish Edouard’s favourable reputation in Paris.

Édouard married Fernande Joyeuse in 1914 and had a child – Jacqueline Simone in 1916. The First World War would interrupt the life of this young family. Although a pacifist, Èdouard Cortès would join the French military at the age of 32. He was sent to the front lines as a contract agent. Sustaining a bayonet wound, Cortès would be evacuated to a military hospital. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Once recovered, Èdouard Cortès was assigned to a staff position, where his artistic talents proved invaluable in sketching enemy positions.

In 1919, Èdouard Cortès was demobilized and retuned to Paris. His wife, Fernande would die in 1918 leaving Cortès and his two year old daughter, Jacqueline, alone. Shortly thereafter Édouard would marry his sister-in-law Lucienne Joyeuse. They settled in Paris and Édouard continued to paint views of Paris. In 1925, Cortès moved his family moved back to Lagny (in Normandy) and he began painting scenes of country life – including landscapes, interior scenes and still lives.

He passed away the way he lived in serenity and simplicity. Although he did not wish the town of Lagny to celebrate his life, ten years after his death a street was name in his honour. Èdouard Leon Cortès passed away in 1969 in his home at 22 rue Macheret, Lagny-Torigny.