Marcel Bascoulard

Marcel Armand Bascoulard-Mulet (10 February 1913 – 12 January 1978) was a French photographer, illustrator, painter, poet, and designer. He is known for his prolific self-portraits produced throughout his life which featured him wearing handmade dresses. He is often referred to as the "Diogenes of Bourges."

Early life Bascoulard was born in Vallenay to Léon Bascoulard and Marguerite Bascoulard (née Mulet) and grew up in Saint Florent-sur-Cher. He was known to add his mother's surname along to "Bascoulard." As a child, he wished to become a train engineer. In 1932, when Bascoulard was 19, his mother shot and killed his father after attempting to flee, and was committed to the Beauregard Psychiatric Hospital for the rest of her life. This event traumatized the young man, as he was very close with his mother.

Career as an artist After his father's death, Bascoulard moved to the neighborhood of Avaricum in Bourges, to be closer to the mental asylum where his mother stayed. He began his career as an artist by making landscapes of the city's and nearby suburbs' streets, architecture, and nature and in ink, gouache, and lithography. He would go on to use pastels and paint, as well and later dabbled in abstraction.

Bascoulard began his series of photograph self-portraits in 1942, a practice which he would continue until his death. In these self portraits, he wears handmade gowns, often paired with parasols and handbags. He is quoted with saying: “If I sometimes walk around dressed like a woman, it’s because I find this apparel more aesthetic. For the purpose of art, [...] I put on women's clothing." In 1942, he was suspected of espionage while drawing trains at a train station and was sent to Bordiot prison in Bourges. He was known to adorn his outfits with signs saying "screw society," which attracted further attention from authorities He was known for having a photographic memory. He owned several cats which he took care of.

Death In 1978, Bascoulard was murdered by strangulation. 23-year-old Jean-Claude Simon was convicted for the murder, although some believe he was wrongly accused.

In 1998, Bourges installed a bust of Bascoulard on a street named after him.