Cesar Pattein (French 1850-1931)

A son of a farmer, Cesar Pattein was born in Steenvoorde, France.  Following the example of his artistic brothers, he studied engraving from a local artist by the name of Cabasson.  In 1878 he was accepted at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Lille under Alphonse Colas, a painter of genre subjects.  Pattein as also a student of Jules Breton, a painter of poetic landscapes and of human nature.  Breton was to influence his use of the peasants as subject material

In 1881, service in the military brought him to Arras where he spent eight years.  There he found time to do portraits and rustic scenes which he was able to exhibit for the first time at the Paris Salon of 1882.  After his marriage and the birth of his daughter, the artist settled in Hazebrouch.

Although Pattein did paint some history and religious works, he was known for his country scenes where children are enjoying themselves in the fields.  The attitudes he represents are wonderfully natural and the quality could be considered close to that of photography.

The artist was awarded with Third Class medals in the Paris Salon's of 1896 and 1906.  He also received a Silver medal at Amiens in 1885.