On The Beach

Charles Garabed Atamian, a French painter of Armenian descent, was born on September 18, 1872, in Constantinople and passed away on July 30, 1947, in Paris. His early years were marked by a rich cultural education, beginning at the Lycée Saint-Benoît in Constantinople before moving to Venice to attend the Armeno Moorat-Raphael college and the Academy of Fine Arts. Returning to Constantinople, Atamian served as the chief ceramist for Sultan Abdülhamid II, a role he held until 1897, while also embarking on his journey as a watercolorist. In late 1897, Atamian relocated to Paris, settling in the Villa des Arts, where he was neighbors with notable artists like Eugène Carrière and Paul Cézanne. His artistic pursuits led him to the Louvre, where he studied masterpieces such as Titian's 'La Vierge au lapin' to refine his craft. By 1903, Atamian had gained recognition at the Salon d'automne and established himself as an illustrator for major publishers and literary magazines, a profession that sustained him until 1918. His oeuvre expanded to include portraiture starting in 1911, alongside his travels. During World War I, due to his Ottoman citizenship and his wife's Austrian background, Atamian was confined to Paris, where he continued his work as an illustrator and poster artist for theater director Gustave Quinson, mingling with the era's artistic luminaries. The post-war period saw Atamian exploring the south of France, further enriching his artistic vision.