René Genis (1922-2004) was a French painter and printmaker. Born in Hue, Vietnam, his family returned to France in 1931 and eventually settled in Paris. Genis enrolled at the School of Applied Arts in Paris when WWII broke out. His family fled to Bordeaux where he attended the School of Fine Arts. After the war Genis returned to Paris and entered the National School of Decorative Arts and obtained a diploma in decorative painting in 1950. The same year he first exhibited at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture. A specialist in still lifes and landscapes, he soon gained international fame and today his paintings are found in many museums worldwide. In addition to paintings, Genis also created tapestries, mosaics, murals and ceramics. A member of the Society of French Painters & Engravers, Genis visited Sri Lanka around 1984.