Etienne Ret was born in Bourbonnais, France on Jan. 6, 1900. Ret graduated from the College of Mesnieres and completed military service in 1924. He then began formal art training in Paris in the ateliers of Maurice Denis and Georges Desvallieres, and at Ecole des Beaux Arts and Ecole des Arts Décoratifs. He exhibited his original paintings, etchings and lithographs with the Societe des Independants, in Paris.

His book of poetry, Blindmans Bluff, was a prize winner in 1929. Sometime in the early 1930’s Ret moved to San Antonio, Texas where he was an active member of the arts community. Ret exhibited in London and Paris before settling in Hollywood in 1934. He taught at the Chouinard Art Institute and was active in Los Angeles through the late 1950s.

Etienne Ret died on June 21, 1996 in France at the age of 96.