Constantin Guys

Who was Constantin Guys?

Constantin Guys, Ernest-Adolphe-Hyacinthe-Constantin, was a Dutch-born Crimean War correspondent, water color painter and illustrator for British and French newspapers.

Guys was born in Vlissingen. Baudelaire called him the "painter of modern life," and wrote a long essay on Guys in which he extensively praised his works, under the pseudonym "Monsieur G". Robert de Montesquiou wrote a review of Guys that acknowledged Baudelaire's essay, compared Guys favorably to Whistler, and emphasized his portrayal of details of women's clothing, and horse carriages. His subjects were Second French Empire life. In the Dutch novel "Au pair" by W.F. Hermans, one of the main characters is fascinated by Constantin Guys. Guys died in Paris, aged 90.