Rating and value of paintings by Maximilien Luce

If you own a work of art by Maximilien Luce or based on his work and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can help you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price.

Artist's rating and value

Maximilien Luce's work is quite present and quoted on the auction market. His works arouse interest among collectors and art lovers, particularly those who appreciate the postimpressionist movement and the artist's social commitment. The most sought-after pieces are depictions of working-class scenes, urban landscapes and industrial subjects. A work by Maximilien Luce can fetch millions of euros at auction, like his painting Baigneuse à Saint Tropez, which sold for over 3 million euros in 2022.  

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

The life of Maximilien Luce

Maximilien Luce was born into a family of craftsmen in Paris in 1858. He was soon drawn to drawing and apprenticed as a wood engraver. After several years of practice in an engraver's workshop, Luce devoted himself entirely to painting in 1880.

Highly involved in anarchist circles, Maximilien Luce produced numerous drawings for political newspapers and took part in the ideological conflicts of his time. 

Inspired by Camille Pissarro and a circle of artists he frequented in the 1890s, Luce adopted the path of Post-Impressionism. Although the artist appreciated the paintings of Nicolas Poussin, Luce was attracted by the technique of divisionism, characterized by strokes and juxtapositions of complementary colors creating luminous vibrations - very close to Pointillism.

He depicts workers at work in the factory or in the fields, or taking breaks from their laborious lives, as in the painting Gare de l'Est. Although he uses the pointillist technique and follows in the Impressionist footsteps, he is nevertheless inspired by the social realism established by Gustave Courbet in the 19th century, which aimed to give pictorial representation to those who did not benefit from it.  

Maximilien Luce died in 1941, leaving behind a prolific artistic output.

The artist's works and style

Associated with the Post-Impressionist movement, Maximilien Luce is best known for his Divisionist technique, in which touches of pure color were applied side by side to the canvas. This process created an optical vibration and a particular luminosity when the colors were perceived from afar. This technique gave his works a sense of movement and light. 

The artist's themes were varied, moving from urban landscapes to rural scenes, and from harbors to working-class scenes. In addition, Luce was particularly interested in social and political themes, and his paintings often reflected a realistic view of workers' daily lives.

Today, his works are listed and highly prized at auction.

His signature

Not all Maximilien Luce's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature:

Appraising your property

If you own a work by Maximilien Luce, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your Maximilien Luce work. 

If you are considering selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each work.