Paul Albert Laurens

Paul Albert Laurens (Paris, 1870 – 1934) was a French painter and the eldest son of the painter Jean-Paul Laurens. Born in Paris, he was taken back to his father's native village of Fourquevaux, in southwestern France, when the Franco-Prussian War broke out. He is best known for his figure painting and for his teaching.

He attended school on the Rue d'Assas, where he met André Gide, and in 1894 travelled with him to Algeria, settling in Biskra. Around 1890 he had trained at the Académie Julian alongside his brother Jean-Pierre, also a painter. His early works, such as Les Saintes Femmes, shown at the Salon of 1893, and scenes from North Africa show an interest in light and colour. He later turned to society subjects, Commedia dell'Arte scenes and portraits of women, including Solitude, shown at the Salon of 1900, and Travest, now in the Petit Palais in Paris.

During the First World War he worked on military camouflage with other artists. He taught drawing at the École Polytechnique from 1919 to 1934 and was elected to the French Academy of Fine Arts in 1933. Among his students were Lucien Simon and Jean Bertholle. His legacy lies mainly in his teaching and in his presence in public collections.