**Jean-François Martial** (1881-1977) was a French silent film actor and an emblematic figure of the French Impressionist period. Recognizable for his intense expressiveness and penetrating gaze, Martial specialized in complex and often disturbing roles, giving his characters an aura of mystery or madness.

He was a frequent collaborator with avant-garde directors such as Abel Gance and Marcel L'Herbier. Among his most famous performances are that of General Cambronne in Gance's *Napoléon* (1927) and the enigmatic D'Herelle in L'Herbier's *L'Inhumaine* (1924). He also appeared in Ivan Mosjoukine's *Le Brasier ardent* (1923) and in experimental works such as Germaine Dulac's *La Folie du Dr. Tube* (1915). His charismatic presence made him an iconic face of early French cinema.