Camille Bombois (French, 1883–1970) is one of the most storied unknowns of French art in the 20th century. A weightlifter and wrestler, who performed in the circus, and tugged boats for a living, he became a self-taught painter at an advanced age. He sold his paintings, mostly small formats, on the street markets of Montmartre in Paris. In 1924, the famous art critic and dealer Wilhelm Uhde took notice of Bombois – allegedly after receiving a hint from his friend Pablo Picasso – and helped him to his first gallery appearance. By 1938, Bombois was canonical enough to be included in “Masters of Popular Painting”, a momentous group exhibition in New York’s MoMA. And in 1955, his work was presented at the “documenta 1” in Kassel. It was the modernity and individuality of expression that had captivated Picasso and his peers – and it has not lost its fascination to this day.

Tom Anholt decided to invite other artists, friends and admired peers, to revisit Bombois – and to evoke a conversation between Bombois paintings held by Galerie Judin and the contemporary responses they meet with.