A Life of Design and Color Léon Cauvy began his formal training at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Montpellier, but the pull of the larger art world led him to Paris in 1895. There, he studied under the painter Albert Maignan, absorbing techniques that would later inform both his decorative and fine art pursuits. Upon returning to Montpellier, his hands were busy with more than just a brush; he became deeply involved in the creation of Art Nouveau furniture and interior designs. His early career was marked by a remarkable ability to blend utility with ornament. Between 1896 and 1906, hi…