The Son of a Merchant Born in Reims, France, in 1851, Émile Barau did not begin his life among the easels and oils of a studio. He was the son of a cork merchant, and for many years, his hands were occupied with the family trade rather than the brush. It was only after his father passed away in 1872 that he turned fully toward his true calling. This transition from the practical world of commerce to the disciplined life of an artist marked the beginning of a long and steady career. He sought formal training at the École nationale des beaux-arts, studying under Eugen Jettel and Jean-Léon Gérô…