Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 3 works by Max Jacob in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Max Jacob's most famous painting is Fêtes À Quimper (1930). L'église De Locmaria [à Quimper (1927) and Deux Bretonnes (1930) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 3 works by Max Jacob in our catalog, the gallery presents the 3 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
Fêtes À Quimper is an oil painting by Max Jacob, created about 1930. The work captures a community celebration likely rooted in Breton culture, reflecting the artist's connection to his birthplace of Quimper, France.
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Max Jacob | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper |
Quimper | 1 | Deux Bretonnes |
4 years, 1927 to 1930, hold Max Jacob's whole dated career on this page: a short one, seen here year by year through its most famous originals.
Pick a year to see its originals.
Fêtes À Quimper is an oil painting by Max Jacob, created about 1930. The work captures a community celebration likely rooted in Breton culture, reflecting the artist's connection to his birthplace of Quimper, France.
More from 1930
Fêtes À Quimper (1930). L'église De Locmaria [à Quimper (1927) and Deux Bretonnes (1930) come next.
54 years old: Fêtes À Quimper dates from 1930, and Max Jacob was born in 1876.
Our catalog holds 3 works by Max Jacob, dated from 1927 to 1930.
Mostly in Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper (Quimper). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1930: 2 of the 3 works on this page were made then, Fêtes À Quimper among them.
On this page, the earliest is L'église De Locmaria [à Quimper (1927) and the latest Fêtes À Quimper (1930).
Max Jacob (French: [maks ʒakɔb]; July 12, 1876 – March 5, 1944) was a French poet, painter, writer, and critic. A pivotal figure in the early 20th-century avant-garde, he served as an important link between Symbolism and Surrealism.
Born in Quimper, Brittany, France, Jacob spent his childhood immersed in the region’s culture. He initially pursued studies at the Paris Colonial School in 1897 but soon abandoned them to dedicate himself to a career as an artist. This decision marked the beginning of a multifaceted artistic journey.
Jacob quickly became integrated into the Parisian art scene, forging close relationships with some of the most influential artists and writers of his time. He was among the first friends Pablo Picasso made in Paris, even sharing a room with him on Boulevard Voltaire. Through Picasso, Jacob met Guillaume Apollinaire, who subsequently introduced Picasso to Georges Braque. His circle also included Jean Cocteau, Jean Hugo, Christopher Wood, and Amedeo Modigliani, who famously painted his portrait in 1916.
Jacob’s artistic output spanned multiple disciplines. As a poet, he developed a unique style characterized by free verse, playful language, and exploration of spiritual themes. His prose poems, particularly Le Cornet à dés (The Dice Box), published in 1917, are considered groundbreaking works that anticipate Surrealist techniques. His paintings, while less widely known than his literary work, demonstrate a similar experimentation with form and subject matter.
Beyond Le Cornet à dés, Jacob authored several other significant works including the novel Saint Matorel (1911) and the free verse collection Le Laboratoire Central (1921). His writings often delve into philosophical and religious questions. La Défense de Tartuffe (1919) exemplifies his complex attitudes towards faith and morality.
In 1909, Jacob claimed to have experienced a vision of Christ, leading to his conversion to Catholicism. He hoped this conversion would resolve his internal conflicts regarding his homosexuality, though it proved a complex and ultimately unresolved struggle. This deeply personal journey profoundly influenced his artistic expression.
Max Jacob’s importance lies in his role as a transitional figure between Symbolism and Surrealism. He fostered connections among key artists, encouraging experimentation and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. His work anticipated many of the themes and techniques that would define 20th-century art and literature. The psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan famously attributed the quote “the truth is always new” to Jacob, highlighting his enduring philosophical impact.
During World War II, as a Jew living in France, Jacob faced increasing persecution. He was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 and died at the Drancy internment camp shortly thereafter. His legacy continues to inspire artists and scholars interested in the intersection of art, spirituality, and identity.
