Henri Edmond Cross, born Henri-Edmond-Joseph Delacroix, was a French painter and printmaker. He is most acclaimed as a master of Neo-Impressionism and played an important role in shaping the second phase of that movement. Cross was a significant influence on Henri Matisse and many other artists. His work was instrumental in the development of Fauvism.

Early Life and Education

Cross was born in Douai, a commune in the Nord department in northern France, on 20 May 1856. He had no surviving siblings. His parents, with a family history of ironmongery, were Alcide Delacroix, a French adventurer, and British Fanny Woollett. In 1865, the family moved to a location near Lille, a northern French city close to the Belgian border. Cross's art education continued under fellow Douai artist Émile Dupont-Zipcy, after moving to Paris in 1881. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and, in 1878, he enrolled at the Écoles Académiques de Dessin et d'Architecture, studying for three years in the studio of Alphonse Colas.

Artistic Career

Cross's early works, portraits and still lifes, were in the dark colors of Realism. In order to distinguish himself from the famous Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix, he changed his name in 1881, shortening and Anglicizing his birth name to "Henri Cross". 1881 was also the year of his first exhibition at the Salon des Artistes Français. Cross co-founded the Société des Artistes Indépendants in 1884, which consisted of artists displeased with the practices of the official Salon. There, he met and became friends with many artists involved in the Neo-Impressionist movement, including Georges Seurat, Albert Dubois-Pillet, and Charles Angrand. Neo-Impressionism had a significant influence on Cross's work. He was also influenced by the Impressionists, such as Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. In about 1886, again attempting to differentiate himself from another French artist – this time, Henri Cros – he changed his name, finally adopting "Henri-Edmond Cross".

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Some of Cross's notable works can be found at the Musée Maurice Denis, located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. The museum showcases an impressive collection of French post-impressionism paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cross had wintered in the south of France from 1883 onward, until, suffering from rheumatism, he finally moved there full-time in 1891. His works were still exhibited in Paris. For more information on Cross's life and work, visit Henri Edmond Cross page on WahooArt.

• Check out the Paul Gauguin page for more information on Post-Impressionism.
• Visit the Musée Maurice Denis page to explore the museum's collection of French post-impressionism paintings.
• Discover the works of other notable artists, such as Henri Matisse, at WahooArt.

Cross's affinity with the Neo-Impressionist movement extended beyond the painting style to include their political philosophies. Like Paul Signac and Camille Pissarro, Cross believed in anarchist principles, with hope for a utopian society. For more information on the artist's life and work, visit WahooArt.