René Martin Français, 1891-1977

Born in Paris in 1891, René Martin was a versatile artist active through the 20th century. He specialized in Orientalist-themed works—depicting Bedouins, market scenes, and Moroccan street sellers—using watercolor, pastel, and drawing, alongside figurative landscapes of Switzerland and France.
He exhibited in various Parisian and Swiss salons, and his works frequently appear in auctions, especially pastel portraits of young Moroccan women from the 1930s–1940s. A regular on the art market, he had over a hundred recorded public sales.
René Martin passed away in Paris in 1977, leaving a substantial and varied oeuvre, bridging Orientalist ambiance, European landscapes, and mastery of pastel and watercolor techniques.