René was born in Bordeaux in1907 and he joined the Society of Independent Painters of Bordeaux in 1931. Some of the members of the group met at the École des Beaux-Arts and René was one of the 'four muskateers' of the association along with Jac Belaubre, Edmond Boissonnet and Maurice Pargade.
Like the other members of the group, he painted in and around the area of Bordeaux and other areas in the south of France such as the ports of Sète or Collioure.
He also joined the workshops of the Grand Théâtre at Bordeaux, painting many of the theatre backdrops.