François Rousseau
Encyclopedia
François Rousseau is a professional French
painter
and photographer
.
He started in painting for almost ten years, before turning to photography in 1995. The link started when he discovered Patrick Grainville
's novel, L'Atelier du Peintre (The Painter’s Studio) when it came out in 1988 about the relationship of the painter to his models, of different backgrounds, who posed in the studio. It was as if the models had waited to be born and even chosen by the master. This resulted in Rousseau's work Atelier. Mikael Karlsson composed Life Class, a 25-minute musical work accompanying Atelier that became a vital part of the project. Photos from Atelier became a part of an exhibition at the Maison européenne de la photographie
in Paris
until April 2009.
He has photographed the 2004, 2011 and 2012 annual issues of Dieux du Stade
, a popular series of nude and semi-nude calendars based on members of Stade Français, a Paris
-based French
rugby
team. His work was also documented in famous Dieux du Stade book Locker Room Nudes.
He has photographed other athletes, most notably Olympic athletes Steeve and Christophe Guenot in 2004, many models and a number of Out
magazine covers (like John Barrowman) and Vampires in L.A feature and major articles features like Chad White in the magazine. ORA was a successful photo book project in 2008 and the Wet Men book project.
François Rousseau's photos were used for the promotional launching poster of French gay Pink TV channel. His Habibi NYC and Amor Causa Brazilian shoots of individuals picked from the street gave him an independent profile.
Calendars
and his work portrays mainly gay themes, the male body, athleticism and spirituality.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and photographer
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
.
He started in painting for almost ten years, before turning to photography in 1995. The link started when he discovered Patrick Grainville
Patrick Grainville
Patrick Grainville Patrick Grainville Patrick Grainville (born 1 June 1947 Villers-sur-Mer (Calvados) is a French novelist.He spent his childhood in Villerville, a small town east of Deauville....
's novel, L'Atelier du Peintre (The Painter’s Studio) when it came out in 1988 about the relationship of the painter to his models, of different backgrounds, who posed in the studio. It was as if the models had waited to be born and even chosen by the master. This resulted in Rousseau's work Atelier. Mikael Karlsson composed Life Class, a 25-minute musical work accompanying Atelier that became a vital part of the project. Photos from Atelier became a part of an exhibition at the Maison européenne de la photographie
Maison européenne de la photographie
The Maison Européenne de la Photographie, situated in the historic heart of Paris, is a major centre for contemporary photographic art. Since February 1996 it has housed an exhibition centre, a large library, an auditorium, and a video viewing facility with a wide selection of films...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
until April 2009.
He has photographed the 2004, 2011 and 2012 annual issues of Dieux du Stade
Dieux du Stade
Dieux du Stade is the title of two books and several calendars and DVDs first published in 2001, featuring nude and semi-nude photographs of members of Stade Français, a Paris-based domestic French rugby team...
, a popular series of nude and semi-nude calendars based on members of Stade Français, a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
-based French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team. His work was also documented in famous Dieux du Stade book Locker Room Nudes.
He has photographed other athletes, most notably Olympic athletes Steeve and Christophe Guenot in 2004, many models and a number of Out
Out (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine covers (like John Barrowman) and Vampires in L.A feature and major articles features like Chad White in the magazine. ORA was a successful photo book project in 2008 and the Wet Men book project.
François Rousseau's photos were used for the promotional launching poster of French gay Pink TV channel. His Habibi NYC and Amor Causa Brazilian shoots of individuals picked from the street gave him an independent profile.
Books and publications
- 2004: Dieux du stade: Le livre
- 2005: Locker Room Nudes Dieux du Stade: The French National Rugby Team (Universe)
- 2005: Male Nudes (Photography by Rousseau, text by Philippe Castetbon) (editions Silverback Books)
- 2005: Princes of the Sea (Passionate Pursuits) (Fitway Publishing)
- 2005: Amor Causa (Fitway Publishing)
- 2006: Nu (Photography by Rousseau, text by Philippe Castetbon) (edition Fitway Publishing)
- 2008: ORA
- 2009: Men in Motion: The Art and Passion of the Male Dancer (Universe)
- 2011: Wet Men (François Rousseau) (Rizzoli)
- 2011: Eaux d'hommes (François Rousseau, Vanessa Blondel et Catherine Bonifassi)
Calendars
- 2010: Dieux du Stade 2011 (Photographer: François Rousseau)
- 2011: Dieux du Stade Calendrier 2012 (Photographer: François Rousseau)
Personal life
François Rousseau is openly gayHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and his work portrays mainly gay themes, the male body, athleticism and spirituality.