Max Jacob

Quimper (Brittany, France), 1876 – Drancy (Concentration Camp), 1944

Max Jacob was born on July 12, 1876, in Quimper, Brittany, into a Jewish family. From a young age, he showed an inclination for the arts and literature. He moved to Paris in 1894 to study at the Colonial School, but soon abandoned his formal studies to dedicate himself to writing and painting, immersing himself in the vibrant artistic environment of Montmartre. In Paris, Jacob met many artists and intellectuals of the time, including Pablo Picasso, with whom he formed a close friendship. In 1901, he moved to a studio in the Bateau-Lavoir, where he lived alongside Picasso and other avant-garde artists. During this period, Jacob began experimenting with different literary forms and styles, adopting a symbolist approach in his poetry. In 1909, Jacob had a mystical experience that led him to convert to Catholicism in 1915. This spiritual change profoundly influenced his work, infusing his poems and writings with a sense of spiritual quest and reflection on the divine and the profane. He published his first major book, “Le cornet à dés” in 1917, a collection of prose poems that was well received and cemented his literary reputation. In 1921, Jacob moved to Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, seeking a quieter life away from the bustle of Paris. With the rise of antisemitism and the outbreak of World War II, Jacob’s life became increasingly dangerous. Despite his conversion to Catholicism, his Jewish origin made him a target during the Nazi occupation of France. In February 1944, Jacob was arrested by the Gestapo and deported to the Drancy concentration camp. Although influential friends tried to secure his release, Max Jacob died of pneumonia in Drancy on March 5, 1944, before he could be liberated.