Jacque Bouyssou was born in La Rivere St-Sauveur, a small village near Honfleur and died there in 1997. As a child, he would be introduced to and be influenced regional artists such as Jean Dufy (1888-1967), Marcel Francois Leprin (1892-1931, Celso Lagar (1891-1966) by his father who was a very successful art dealer and gallery owner. Bouyssou began his formal art studies as in architecture at the Beaux Arts de Troyes and drawing with Janin. He would then travel to Paris to study with Othon Friez (1879-1949) at la Grande Chaumière.  While at La Grande Chaumière, he would meet Moise Kisling (1891-1953), Ferdinand Léger (1881-1955), Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967). These modern painters had an enormous influence on this young painter. However, it was the impressionist who would win his heart. He would also refer a philosophical poetic line used by the impressionist painters of the last century:

“aujourd'hui, je sais qu'il y a des choses qui ne s'apprennent pas: le geste qui traduit une émotion par le trait, les volumes et les couleurs. Plus le choc émotionnel est fort, moins le contrôle arrête le geste... Je peins ce que je vois et ce que je suis.”

In 1950 Bouyssou married and although life was difficult for the young couple, his desire to succeed was not diminished. After exhibiting a few painting in many different galleries, he finally arranged a one-man show in Paris. That successful show led to one-man exhibitions in London and New York. In 1968, Bouyssou began exhibiting with the galleries of Felix Vercel in Paris and New York.

Although Jacque Bouyssou is considered a post-impressionist, he also became known as a painter of reality. He would remain faithful to his Honfleur throughout his career.  Bouyssou was fascinated with the water that surrounded Honfleur, as a young boy. He would later incorporate this love on to canvas. Bouyssou would build a successful career painting the surrounding beaches, harbors and the sea. His pure emotional attachment to the water would be translated into discreet poetry on each canvas.

In 1961at the Salon de la Marine, Jacque was awarded France’s highest honors as a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. In 1987, the French Government would further honor Bouyssou. He, like Honfleur painter Eugène Louis Boudin (1824-1898), would be appointed the official Marine painter of France.

Awards:
Peintre Agree’ au Department de la Marine, 1973
1er prix du Salon des Bas Normands, 1955
1er prix de Deauville en 1965
1er prix de Maisons Lafitte, 1978
2em de Barbizon, 1978
Medialle du Salon des Bas Normand en 1979
Medialle “Honoris Causa” Academie Europeene des Beaux Arts
Membre du Comite du Salon des Artistes Honfleurais
President du Jury du Salon Mansonnien
Paintings acquired by the French Government & the City of Paris.
Museums:
Honfleur
Rouen
Beymouth
Montreal
Philadelphia
Art Moderne Paris
Antibis
Menton
Muse de la marine, Paris
Muse Troville
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, G.B.