Her First Catch

The Life and Artistic Journey of Alfred Guillou

Born in Concarneau, France, Alfred Guillou was the son of a fisherman and farmer who served as the mayor of Concarneau for fifteen years. His artistic training began under the lithographer Théodore Le Monnier, who advised him to move to Paris in 1862. After a brief period at the Académie Suisse, he entered the workshop of Alexandre Cabanel. It was in this setting that he met Jules Bastien-Lepage, Fernand Cormon, and Théophile Deyrolle, whom he encouraged to leave architecture to join him at Cabanel's atelier.

Guillou made his debut at the Salon in 1868 with Young Breton Fisherman. In 1870, he and Deyrolle moved to Concarneau, where they established the Concarneau Art Colony. Following his marriage to the daughter of engraver Joseph Gabriel Tourny, he maintained a home in Montparnasse while remaining deeply connected to his hometown. After his father's death in 1887, he built a house and workshop in Concarneau and became a member of the board of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper.

Notable Works and Recognition

Guillou's contributions to French art were recognized at the 1889 and 1900 Universal Exhibitions in Paris, where he was awarded silver medals. His body of work frequently focused on the maritime and cultural life of Brittany. Some of his notable paintings include: