SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Paul Duhem

Born in Blandain in 1919 and died in Ellignies-Sainte-Anne in 1999, Paul Duhem developed a body of work organised in series, in which houses and portraits recur in particular. In 1990, he joined the painting studio at Centre La Pommeraie, which he attended until the end of his life. The Paul Duhem Foundation distinguishes these two main subjects from mills and birds, secondary themes that he worked on mainly for a few months in 1995.

In a single drawing, Duhem combines several materials: oil paint, ballpoint pen, marker, coloured pencils and wax or oil pastel. He works in series, revisiting his motifs through combined techniques. In his depictions of houses, the door occupies a central place. Like the house itself, it can be rectangular, square or very elongated and narrow; a window, sometimes divided in two, may appear in it. His first and last name, inscribed at the beginning of the work — rather than a signature added to conclude it — contribute to the construction of the sheet. To arrange his colours, he uses a sardine tin rather than a palette, pouring the contents of the chosen tube into it. He also sometimes trims the studio’s sheets with a knife, giving them an apparently torn edge.

Before his death, Duhem bequeathed all his works to Centre La Pommeraie; part of this body of work is now held by the Foundation that bears his name. His work is represented in several public collections, notably the Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne, LaM in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, La Fabuloserie in Dicy and the Musée de la Création Franche in Bègles. A retrospective of his work was presented during his lifetime at the Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne. Solo exhibitions are subsequently recorded at Galerie du Marché in Lausanne in 2008, and then at Trinkhall Museum in 2022 under the title « Peindre - Paul Duhem ».

This profile brings together identity references for Paul Duhem and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

7 references are documented at Germann, DognyAuction. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Germann

Man, 1998

Mixed media on paper

Original catalogue wording

Mann, 1998
Mischtechnik auf Papier.

Date to be documented

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme ' et 'Homme rouge',...

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme ' et 'Homme rouge',...
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 812 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu' et 'Homme ro…

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu' et 'Homme ro…
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 562 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu' et 'Homme rou...

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu' et 'Homme rou...
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 999 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu rouge', gouach...

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme bleu rouge', gouach...
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 499 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme jaune et rouge ' et...

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme jaune et rouge ' et...
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 406 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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DognyAuction

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme sur fond jaune' et ...

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

Paul DUHEM (1919-1999), 'Homme sur fond jaune' et ...
gouache

Date to be documented

Published result : 874 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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Sources and references

• Reference record
• AGORHA · Reference link only; no institutional text or image copied.
• LoC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• Documentary source
• Documentary source
• Documentary source

SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19