François Gall

French/Hungarian, 1912-1987

François Gall was born in Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania) to Hungarian parents. He began his artistic studies under the Romanian artist Aurel Popp and later trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rome while supporting himself through manual work. In 1936, he relocated to Paris and continued his studies at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts under Lucien Simon. These early years in Rome and Paris proved formative, guiding his affinity for French Impressionism.

Gall became known for paintings that centered on the figure, particularly women, mothers and children, as well as Parisian street scenes, beaches, and domestic interiors. Though often aligned with the post-Impressionists, Gall maintained a distinct sensitivity that balanced elegance and presence.

He exhibited widely in France and abroad, regularly participating in the Paris Salons. His contributions earned significant recognition, including the Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris in 1974 and appointment as Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1976. The French State acquired several of his works, further establishing his reputation in national collections. Collectors value Gall’s work for its refinement, expressive brushwork, and the way it celebrates both the grace and rhythm of daily life. Gall's paintings offer a vision of modernity seen through an intimate and appealing lens.