Maurice Utrillo

Maurice Utrillo was a French painter and the son of the artist Suzanne Valadon. He is one of the artists in Montmartre known as the Bohème réactionnaire.

Maurice Utrillo was born the illegitimate son of Suzanne Valadon and initially bore her name until his biological father, the Spanish art critic Miguel Utrillo, acknowledged paternity. Utrillo grew up in Pierrefitte and had a troubled youth, marked by alcoholism and nervous problems. Nevertheless, he developed into an important painter and spent a lot of time in artistic circles, especially in Montmartre. His art went through various phases, from impressionist influences to more colourful and naïve styles. He also had relationships with other artists such as André Utter. Utrillo achieved his first successes with participations in the Salon d’automne and had an extended stay in a mental hospital in 1912. His works continued to be successfully exhibited and he was awarded the gold medal of the city of Paris. He later converted to Christianity and married the painter Lucie Valore.