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.
"Claudine" Marcel Dyf, Impressionist Painter, Female Portrait, French, Interior
By Marcel Dyf
Located in New York, NY
Marcel Dyf Claudine Signed lower right Oil on canvas 25 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches Marcel Dyf, born Marcel Dreyfus in Paris, was a French painter whose work carried forward the traditions...
Canvas, Oil
"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
$7,463
H 26.19 in W 30.32 in D 1.97 in
After the ball, painting, portrait, framed, belle epoque
Located in PARIS, FR
Albert Bréauté (1854-1941) After the Ball, 1894 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm 77 x 66.5 cm with frame Signed and dated lower left 1894 Exhibition: Society of Friends of the Arts of Seine...
Canvas, Oil
$1,295
H 32 in W 26 in D 2 in
Antique European Impressionist Elegant Young Woman Portrait Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique European impressionist portrait oil painting . Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring: 26 by 32 inches overall, and 21.5 by 26.5 painting alone. Handsomely framed in a gi...
Oil, Canvas
$9,750
H 40 in W 32 in D 2 in
Stunning Art Deco Young Woman Portrait Framed Signed Rare Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Exquisite antique portrait painting of a young fashionable woman. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed. Image size, 31H by 24L.
Canvas, Oil
$4,995
H 45 in W 33 in D 2 in
Antique European Signed Impressionist Large Framed Woman Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique European impressionist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed in period giltwood molding. Excellent cond...
Oil, Canvas
$1,295
H 28 in W 22 in D 2 in
American Impressionist Young Black Man Nicely Framed Oil Painting Portrait
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American oil painting portrait. Oil on board. Framed. Measuring: 22 by 28 inches overall, and 16 by 24 painting alone. Unsigned. Excellent condition, ready to hang and enjoy.
Oil
$620Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 24 in D 2 in
Antique Signed Spanish Flamenco Dancer Framed Elegant Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted Flamenco dancer portrait. Framed. Oil on board. Signed. Image size, 20H by 16L.
Canvas, Oil
"Somewhere in Denver, " Oil Painting
By Suchitra Bhosle
Located in Denver, CO
Suchitra Bhosle's "Somewhere in Denver" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a dark haired woman, brushing her hair, wearing a translucent white shift around her as she...
Oil, Board
$6,659
H 13 in W 9.26 in
Portrait of the Artist's Daughters, American Impressionism Painting, Signed
By William John Hennessy
Located in PARIS, FR
William John Hennessy Thomastown 1839 - Rudgwick 1917 Portrait of the Artist's Daughters Circa 1880 Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard Signed bottom left 33 x 23.5 cm canvas 44 x ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,180Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 30 in D 2 in
Antique American School Early Impressionist Family Portrait Rare Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful American school impressionist family portrait oil painting. Oil on canvas. Image size, 38H by 30L.
Canvas, Oil
$6,490
H 45 in W 64 in
"Beach Day" – Impressionist Female Portrait and Landscape, Oil Painting
By Conrado López
Located in Denver, CO
Conrado López (Málaga, 1992) began his artistic career through graffiti in Jerez de la Frontera. In 2011, his time at the José Nogué School of Art in Jaén marked a turning point, all...
Gold Leaf
$1,180Sale Price|20% Off
H 25 in W 19 in D 2 in
Antique American Opera Scene Signed Rare Illustration Framed Genre Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Incredible early American illustration of an opera scene by Richard W. Baldwin (1920 - 2012) . Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Canvas, Oil
$1,290Sale Price|40% Off
H 31.5 in W 43.25 in D 2.25 in
"Anna" - Portrait of a Reclining Woman
Located in Soquel, CA
Boldly colored portrait of a woman on a sofa by Nealon A. Mundt (American, 1939-2015). A woman is reclining on a dark blue sofa, with a pink wall in the background. The woman is wearing a white top and a pink skirt, with a red bandana on her hear. Her skin is rendered in a fauvist style, mixing bold yellows and greens with skin tones. There are paintings hanging on the wall behind the sofa. Signed and dated in the lower right corner. Titled, signed, and dated on verso. Presented in a wood frame with a linen fillet. Canvas size: 24"H x 36"W Nealon Mundt...
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