Académie de la Grande Chaumière

The Académie de la Grande Chaumière was created by the Swiss national, Martha Stettler and is dedicated to painting and sculptures.

Located at the heart of the Montparnasse area of Paris, historical core and intellectual life of the capital. The Grande Chaumière is still open to this day. Before 1914, a small number of migrants move to La Ruche. After 1914, it was a tidal wave, people fleeing insurrestions, persecutions, pogroms, censorship or puritanism. The Montparnasse area was popular due to the cheap and easy life here and the low cost of accommodation at the time. Artists and Intellectuals gathered in the cafes from dawn to dusk. It was a period of friendship and collaboration between artists.

Owing to the artist friendships and a limited number of models, the group collective lifedrawing started at le Grande Chaumiere. This meant that the models also had better terms and conditions and it became the new norm for artists working together. Many famous artists used the studios: Picasso, Soutine, Mogligiani, Giacometti, Braque, Dali, Degas, Kandinsky and many more .. I have a long list in a brochure.

Today the Académie de la Grande Chaumière is a private art school and workshop. We went to an exhibition there one day, so Dave, my husband was able to take some photos inside. It is possible to book on a pay as you go system for life drawing classes or sign up for a term. There are classes most days of the week - Monday to Friday both morning and afternoons. I was lucky enough to attend 3 afternoon classes there. The poses follow a standard format - 5x5mins, 15 min, 20 min, 40 min, 20 min, 5x2 mins with a break before the long pose. The classes have very good models and are run by the acadamie students. Below are some results of my work at the classes from both a female and a male model.

Male models: