Gerberoy par Henri Le Sidaner

This leaflet is an invitation to wander through the gardens of Gerberoy, painted by Le Sidaner in the early 20th century. The painter’s canvases are reproduced here together with photographs and unpublished family archives.

From the moment he acquired his house, Le Sidaner was dedicated to preserving and enhancingthe site of Gerberoy. Elected major, he advised the residents on the colors of their facades, aiming to create an harmony between the homes of his constituency. He reshaped the landscape before capturing it on his canvases.

By continually returning to the same motifs—family tables, charming depictions of flowered shutters, potted flowers, village views at dusk—he drew inspiration from the English Arts & Crafts movement, creating an intimate atmosphere enhanced by the quality of Northern light.

A contemporary of the symbolist poets and a friend of Monet, he encountered cubism, expressionism, and surrealism without allowing himself to be influenced. As part of the circle of intimists, including Aman-Jean, Henri Duhem, and Henri Martin, he exhibited with the group at the Georges Petit gallery and presided over the Salon de la Nationale.

Today, thanks to Le Sidaner, Gerberoy is a living painting, a site of pleasure partaken by thousands of visitors.