Gustave Cariot was born in the Marais section of Paris, an enclave where artists and small merchants flourished. His father was a luggage-maker and encouraged Gustave to become his apprentice but the young Cariot insisted on pursuing an artistic career. As a youth, he dedicated his spare time to drawing, sketching various views of the city and countryside. Eventually Cariot joined with the Societe des Artistes Independants and began exhibiting in major Parisian exhibitions. In addition to showing with the Salon Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Cariot participated in the Salon d'Automne and the Salon d'Hiver.

Cariot was particularly interested in the technique of the pointillists although he stopped short of...