Henri Privat-Livemont
Henri Privat-Livemont was a Belgian artist who lived from 1861 to 1936. He is most remembered for his Art Nouveau style poster art and was the preeminent Belgian artist working in this field.
Livemont studied at the Ecole des Arts Decoratives in Saint-Josse-ten-Node, near Schaerbeek in Belgium, before moving to Paris in the 1880s. While in Paris, Livemont worked at the studios of Lemaire, Lavastre, and Duvignaud as an interior decorator. He designed decor for prestigious Parisian establishments such as the Comédie-Française (or Théâtre-Français) and the Hotel de Ville.
Livemont stumbled into the field of lithography after winning a poster art competition. The advent into lithography gained him a lot of commission work for venues and products. His works were well-received and were included in Les Maîtres de l’Affiche (Masters of the Poster) publications that were published by Jules Chéret between 1896 and 1900. Livemont was a contemporary with Alphonse Mucha. Both artists moved to Paris in the 1880s and although their styles are somewhat different, both feature beautiful women surrounded by delicate lines and floral designs.
In the late 1880s, Livemont moved back to Belgium and opened his own studio in Brussels. In addition to posters, Livemont also worked as an interior decorator for theaters, hotels, and casinos, mastering the technique of sgraffito. After the decline of poster art, Livemont shifted his art focus to photography and oil paintings, while continuing with interior design. Livemont remained in Belgium until his death at 75 years of age.
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