Jean Guitet studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris where he was influenced by lyrical abstraction and post-war modern art trends. He quickly became interested in the texture and materiality of painting, which would become a central feature of his work.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Guitet asserted himself on the artistic scene with his works which explored the interactions between surface, material and light. He uses varied techniques, often combining painting and engraving, to create works that question perception and depth. His work is distinguished by a subtle use of colors and shapes, often abstract, creating compositions that evoke interior landscapes and imaginary spaces.

James Guitet discovered Canada from 1963, when he exhibited in Montreal alongside Paul-Émile Borduas, Jean Dallaire, Albert Dumouchel, Charles Gagnon, Louis Jaque, Rita Letendre, Jean-Paul Riopelle, and others, as part of exchanges between the Camille Hébert and Robert Arnaud galleries. From then on, he regularly exhibited and stayed in Montreal with his wife, Lucette. He was represented at the 1967 World's Fair, Terre des Hommes, and had a solo exhibition of his prints at the French pavilion.