Jules René Hervé

French, 1887-1981

Jules René Hervé was born in Langres, France in 1887 and demonstrated a strong commitment to art from a young age. In 1908, he moved to Paris to advance his training at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs and later at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Fernand Cormon and Jules Adler. He made his debut at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1910. From 1911 to 1943, Hervé taught painting in various studios and institutions, a period interrupted only by his military service during World War I.

Hervé developed a luminous and refined style, focusing on Parisian street scenes and rural French life. His technique, rooted in impressionist color and light, offered a contemporary continuation of 19th-century traditions. He depicted everyday scenes with a controlled use of color and clear attention to detail.

His works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Langres, affirming his place within the lineage of French post-impressionist painters. Hervé died in 1981, leaving behind a legacy of quietly observational works that celebrate the rhythm of French daily life.