Known for his pastoral landscapes, still-life paintings of flower bouquets, and portraits — notably of his wife, Claudine — French painter Marcel Dyf is widely regarded as one of the last of the true Impressionists. His mastery of composition and use of soft colors influenced many artists, setting the standard for 20th-century Post-Impressionism.
Dyf was born Marcel Dreyfus in 1899 in Paris. As a child, he displayed artistic talent but briefly considered a career as an engineer before becoming a professional painter at 23, influenced by the likes of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer.
In 1922, Dyf set up a studio in Arles and initially painted landscapes, capturing scenes of the surrounding countryside in oil on canvas. He produced many landscapes depicting Provence, Brittany, Normandy and locales further afield such as Venice, Morocco and Israel.
It wasn’t long before Dyf’s works caught the eye of art dealers and collectors, and he was urged to exhibit in Paris at the Salon des Artistes Français, the Salon d’Automne and the Tuileries.
In 1935, he moved from Arles to Paris and, at the outbreak of World War II, joined the French Resistance. Following the war, during the 1950s, he met 19-year-old model Claudine Godat, who — despite their 36-year age difference — became his wife, muse and subject for many of his most well-known portraits. These include Claudine Songeuse, Claudine and the Red Rose and Claudine with Flowers.
Over the course of his career, Dyf created a substantial body of work — he made landscape paintings, portraits and figurative works. He also painted frescoes in the Museon Arlaten in Arles and produced decorative pieces in the town halls of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and St-Martin-de-Crau.
Following his death in 1985, Dyf’s paintings continued to be featured in numerous exhibitions. The General Council of Bouches-du-Rhône staged a retrospective of his early works in 1995. Four years later, a show that marked what would have been his 100th birthday was held at the L’Espace Dyf in Bois-d’Arcy.
Today, Dyf’s paintings and prints are highly sought by dealers and collectors of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.
Find original Marcel Dyf paintings and wall decorations on 1stDibs.
"The Gypsy" Pensive Girl Sitting in a Field Oil on Canvas Impressionist Painting
By Marcel Dyf
Located in New York, NY
Marcel Dyf was mostly known for his effortless way to captures the times of the people. Executing most works on-site, he truly was able to absorb the energy and the day, movement of ...
Canvas, Oil
Vendimiadora (Grape Harvester)
By Roman Frances
Located in Atlanta, GA
Small limited edition run of 49 and 6 E.A."s (Edition of the artist). Each canvas reproduction is crafted by a skilled printer under the supervision of the artist. Román Francés has...
Canvas, Oil, Giclée
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 11 in D 1 in
Metro Thinker, Portrait & Figurative artist, , Classical, Florence Academy
By Anton Zhou
Located in Houston, TX
Metro Rider is painted in the classical style of Realism that he first learned at the Florence Academy of Art. He has painted portraits over the years and is known for showing the expressions in the person's face. He is also know for winning the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo art...
Oil, Canvas
$195,000
H 63 in W 100 in
French North African early 20th century Impressionist, Fishermen coming ashore
Located in Woodbury, CT
French North African early 20th-century Impressionist, Fishermen coming ashore with their daily catch. André Humbert was born in Paris on the 27th of November. He was a student of t...
Canvas, Oil
$19,500
H 48 in W 36 in D 1 in
"Behind Stage", Zhiwei Tu, Impressionist, Figurative, 48x36 in, Oil on Canvas
By Zhiwei Tu
Located in Dallas, TX
"Behind Stage" by Zhiwei Tu is an Impressionistic Figurative original oil on canvas painting that measures 48x36 in. This painting has a class of beautiful b...
Canvas, Oil
$32,000
H 72 in W 48 in D 1 in
"The Gentle Gesture", John Cook, Oil on Canvas, Impressionism, Native American
By John Cook
Located in Dallas, TX
"The Gentle Gesture" is an original oil on canvas and measures 72x48 inches. This impressionistic painting is of a young Indian woman handing a small flower to a little girl while a ...
Canvas, Oil
$98,746
H 26 in W 23 in
Portrait de Madame Luce - Post Impressionist Portrait Oil by Maximilien Luce
By Maximilien Luce
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed and dated oil on canvas portrait by post impressionist painter Maximilien Luce. The painting is of the artist's wife, Ambroisine "Simone" Bouin, seated in a chair with a vase ...
Canvas, Oil
$7,500
H 40 in W 30 in D 1 in
"Woman Reading", An He, Impressionistic Portrait, Original Oil on Canvas, 40x30
By An He
Located in Dallas, TX
"Woman Reading" by An He is an original impressionistic oil on canvas portrait painting measuring 40x30 in. A modern day brunette woman sitting in a red chair reads a book in the light of a summers day. Chinese-American artist An He, also known as Hans Amis, is known for his magnificent portrait paintings of...
Canvas, Oil
$1,900
H 24 in W 17 in D 1.5 in
The Streets of Barcelona 5 Impressionism Cuban Artist Oil on Canvas Spain 24x17
By Cristian Mesa Velazquez
Located in Houston, TX
JUST ARRIVED January 2025 The Streets of Barcelona 5 Impressionism Cuban Artist Oil on Canvas Spain 24" x 17" gallery wrapped . This is Streets of Barcelona series that Cristian ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$1,600
H 20 in W 20 in D 1.5 in
The Streets of Barcelona 4 Impressionism Cuban Artist Oil on Canvas Spain 20x20
By Cristian Mesa Velazquez
Located in Houston, TX
JUST ARRIVED January 2025 The Streets of Barcelona 4 Impressionism Cuban Artist Oil on Canvas Spain 20" x 20" gallery wrapped . This is Streets of Barcelona series that Cristian ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$4,400
H 24 in W 30 in
"Picasso, St Christopher and the Philosopher", men by the ocean fishing, boats
Located in Edgartown, MA
Since summer 2004, I have lived in southern Italy, in the region of Puglia, the province of Bari, in a town called Altamura. A two-week restoration project of the Jesce Masseria brou...
Canvas, Oil
Unavailable|$1,000
H 20 in W 16 in
Adam Shaw - "Outkast" - Contemporary Hip Hop Portrait Oil Painting 2015
Located in Denver, CO
Adam Shaw's "Outkast" is an original, handmade oil painting on canvas created in 2015. This striking contemporary artwork measures 20 x 16 inches (50.80 x 40.64 cm) with a depth of 0.62 inches (1.57 cm) and is professionally framed to 21.50 x 17.50 inches. Shaw masterfully captures the essence of the iconic hip-hop duo Outkast in this thought-provoking piece. The painting features vivid portraits of Andre 3000...
Oil, Canvas
$1,700
H 12 in W 12 in
"Bad Hombre XXXX" (2024) By Mark Andrew Bailey, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Andrew Bailey's "Bad Hombre XXXX" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an impressionistic portrait of a male figure wearing a cowboy hat. About the Artist...
Canvas, Oil
Claudine with Fan
By Marcel Dyf
Located in Naples, Florida
Claudine with Fan
Oil
Signed Original Drawing - Portrait of Lady 1939
By Marcel Dyf
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning and utterly evocative of the stylish era it heralds from - the 1930's. Drawn with tremendous mastery of the subject, this hauntingly beautiful original drawing by the lead...
Carbon Pencil
Sold
H 9.65 in W 7.09 in D 0.2 in
Signed Original Painting - Two Girls Seated in Conversation
By Marcel Dyf
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Superb study of two young ladies seated in conversation. Possibly a working sketch for a larger painting to follow - or simply made on the spur of the moment by the artist, purely fo...
Gouache
Sold
H 31.5 in W 25.2 in D 1.58 in
The Basket Weaver - Large Oil Painting Signed & Catalogued
By Marcel Dyf
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Superb original oil painting by the very well listed and highly regarded French painter, Marcel Dyf (1899-1955). The painting is signed to the lower right and is registered in the ar...
Oil