About

Brief report about Jean Depraz’s life

Born on 04 October 1919 in Geneve Plainpalais, Switzerland, son of Emile François Depraz (shoemaker) and Mary Viret Depraz (nurse), Jean spent his childhood and adolescence in a small village named Le Lieu (Swiss Canton of Vaud) located in the heart of Vallée de Joux, Jura Mountains, just on the border of France.

Raised in a modest home under the strict care of a very demanding father and a kind mother, with his two brothers Emile and Albin and his sister Agnès.

The four children dreamed of emancipating and going around the world looking for adventures and self-realization. Europe had just experienced the First World War and there were many difficulties to overcome.

Jean had always been fascinated by arts and drawing showing exceptional ability since he was a child. However he had only the opportunity to take vocational courses and worked as a blacksmith, structural welder and finally graphic designer. He needed to live on and help his family.

Very young at the age of 16 he went to Paris. His goal was to find an opportunity to show his art abilities but his efforts were in vain. He ended up joining the French Foreign Legion.

When he was 17, during his military service in Casablanca, Marroco, under austere conditions, Jean got sick and decided to come back to his homeland to study and work. At that time, there were no chances to artists. He got a job in a locomotive component manufacturing where he met François Bottelli. They became good friends and François introduced his sister Denise Alice to Jean. They fell in love and got married in 1941.

In the middle of Second World War, he realized that his dream of becoming an artist was impossible at the moment.

His brother Emile joined the French army and Jean as a sympathizer took part in political groups, collaborating with the French resistance.

During that period he took the opportunity to improve his studies, despite his meager resources. Jean was a self taught person, he used to spend his nights reading and taking notes of unknown subjects until he mastered them completely.

Without foreseeing a promising future in his native country, Jean and Denise decided to venture into the New World, almost broke but full of hope. That’s how they arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1949 aboard the ship Florida.
At the beginning the couple settled residence in Conselheiro Lafayette (Minas Gerais) where Jean worked for a company named Santa Matilde in the field of railway van construction. During a trip to Ouro Preto, a Brazilian town known by its colonial architecture, Jean, fascinated by what he had seen, drew many images with crayon and aquarelle. He offered them to friends and admirers of his talent.
Back to Rio de Janeiro, he became a draftsman at Standard Electric.

Then in 1953, Jean-Jacques, his only child and author of this report was born.

After been invited to manage a new branch of the multinational Toddy do Brasil, the family moved to Guarulhos in Grande São Paulo area.

His strong temperament and search for an independent life led him to pursue an ambitious project that provided both the support of his family and also a little free time to dedicate to his art. He started a new business. He opened the restaurant Canada Grill in Guarulhos outskirts.

For a long time Jean performed the duties of manager and chef in his restaurant. He had enough to support his family and keep his art. Money had never been a priority to him.

Finally having a little more free time, Jean achieved his goals. He used to produce his own tools to make his paintings, including the wooden frames, canvas, paints and preparations. Always looking for perfection, quality and authenticity of his work.

Unfortunately he didn’t have enough time to reveal his projects. He died at the age of 62 of a heart attack.
Now, 35 years after his death, we reveal part of his work hoping that Jean Depraz dreams’could please and amuse everyone who honors his art.