GOENEUTTE, Norbert
French painter and engraver. In 1871, after working briefly as a lawyer’s clerk, he entered the studio of Isidore Pils at the École des Beaux-Arts. When Pils died in 1875 Henri Lehmann took over the studio and Goeneutte left, moving to Montmartre. He was a regular customer in the Café de la Nouvelle-Athènes where he met Renoir and Manet, who strongly influenced his style of painting. He often modelled for Renoir (e.g. The Swing, Moulin de la Galette) and Marcellin Desboutin, who inspired his interest in engraving, etching and drypoint.
Although Goeneutte was associated with Manet, Degas and Renoir, and his work was influenced by them, for instance in the informality of his compositions, he never exhibited with the Impressionist group, preferring instead the official Salons. Every year from 1876 he exhibited several works in the Paris Salon, such as Boulevard de Clichy under Snow. He visited London in 1880, Rotterdam in 1887 and Venice in 1890.
He moved to Auvers for health reasons, and was treated by Dr. Gachet. Through the support of his brother Charles, he was able to continue his artistic career without financial difficulties.
Goeneutte was an accomplished engraver, illustrating books, including La Terre by Emile Zola, published in 1899, in addition to a great painter of portraits, landscapes and scenes of both working and upper-class Parisian life.
