L'art à fleur de peau, parcours d'une collectionneuse
Zhao Wou-Ki (Chinese: 赵无极, pinyin: Zhào Wújí) was a Chinese-French painter. He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Zao Wou-Ki graduated from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where he studied under Fang Ganmin and Wu Dayu.
Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser was an Austrian visual artist and architect who also worked in the field of environmental protection.
Hundertwasser stood out as an opponent of "a straight line" and any standardization, expressing this concept in the field of building design. His best known work is the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, which has become a notable place of interest in the Austrian capital, characterised by imaginative vitality and uniqueness.
Emil Nolde, a German-Danish artist, stands out as a pivotal figure in the Expressionist movement, celebrated for his vibrant use of color and dynamic brushwork. Born on August 7, 1867, Nolde was initially self-taught, developing a style that later became synonymous with expressive use of color and form. His early work included religious themes and landscapes, characterized by their emotional intensity and innovative color palette. Nolde's contributions to art were not limited to painting; he also excelled in printmaking, creating a significant body of work that includes etchings, woodcuts, and lithographs.
One of Nolde's most noteworthy periods was his time spent on the Baltic Sea island of Alsen from 1903 to 1916, where he produced seascapes that captured the natural world's dynamic essence. His painting "Meer Bei Alsen" (Sea Off Alsen) is a testament to this period, showcasing his ability to convey movement and emotion through color. Furthermore, Nolde's fascination with religious and mythological themes is evident in works like "Dance Around the Golden Calf," where he employs vivid colors and expressive figures to explore complex narratives.
Despite his artistic achievements, Nolde's life was not without controversy. During the Nazi regime, his work was labeled "degenerate," and he faced significant professional and personal challenges. Nonetheless, Nolde continued to create, producing a series of watercolors known as the "Unpainted Pictures" during this time. After World War II, Nolde's reputation was rehabilitated, and he was once again celebrated as a leading figure in modern art.
Nolde's legacy is preserved at the Nolde Foundation Seebüll, a museum dedicated to his life and work, established in the year of his death, 1956. His influence on the field of modern art, particularly within Expressionism, is undeniable, with his bold approach to color and form inspiring subsequent generations of artists.
For art collectors and experts, Nolde's work offers a compelling study in the evolution of modern art, reflecting the tumultuous times he lived through and his unyielding dedication to artistic expression. His ability to capture the essence of his subjects, from the natural beauty of the sea to the depths of human emotion, makes his work a valuable addition to any collection.
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Lucian Michael Freud was a British painter and draughtsman, specialising in figurative art, and is known as one of the foremost 20th-century English portraitists. He was born in Berlin, the son of Jewish architect Ernst L. Freud and the grandson of Sigmund Freud. Freud got his first name "Lucian" from his mother in memory of the ancient writer Lucian of Samosata. His family moved to England in 1933 to escape the rise of Nazism. From 1942 to 1943 he attended Goldsmiths College, London. He served at sea with the British Merchant Navy during the Second World War.
Zoran Anton Mušič is a Slovenian painter and graphic artist who has worked in Italy and France.
Zoran studied painting in Maribor and Zagreb, then went to Madrid and Toledo for a year, where he studied and copied works by Goya and El Greco. At the end of 1944, he became a prisoner of the Nazi concentration camp Dachau, where he spent several months. He survived and even made about two hundred drawings on paper in the camp. After his liberation, Mušić moved to Venice and later to Paris.
Zoran Mušić was the only artist of Slovenian origin who managed to establish himself in the elite cultural circles of Italy and France, especially in Paris in the second half of the 20th century, where he lived most of his later life. He painted landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, as well as horror scenes from the Dachau concentration camp and Vedute Venice. In 1970-1971, the artist created a pictorial reminiscence cycle "We are not the last", dedicated to concentration camp prisoners and became the most famous of his works.
The figures in Mušić's paintings appear out of empty space and seem unfinished. The colors of his self-portraits are the harsh colors of the desert, eliminating the superfluous and reducing to a minimum. These paintings are evidence of the artist's search for answers to the basic questions of human existence.
Jean Fautrier was a French painter and sculptor associated with the Art Informel and Tachisme movements. He initially studied architecture before turning to painting in the early 1920s.
Fautrier's early work was influenced by Cubism and Surrealism, but he eventually developed a more abstract style characterized by thick impasto and expressive brushwork. He often used unconventional materials, such as asphalt, sand, and tar, to create textured surfaces that conveyed a sense of materiality.
During World War II, Fautrier was active in the French Resistance and went into hiding to avoid arrest by the Nazis. His experiences during the war had a profound impact on his work, which became darker and more introspective. He began to create what he called "Hostage" paintings, which depicted anonymous faces and figures that were both haunting and vulnerable.
After the war, Fautrier continued to explore themes of violence, trauma, and decay in his art. He created a series of "Otages" (Hostages) sculptures that were made from casts of human limbs and torsos. These works were highly controversial and provoked strong reactions from critics and the public alike.
Fautrier's influence on the development of Art Informel and Tachisme was significant, and he is regarded as one of the key figures of the movement. His work is represented in many major museums and collections around the world, including the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Louise Nevelson was an American sculptor, renowned for her innovative and monumental monochromatic, wooden wall pieces and outdoor sculptures. Born in Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine), she moved to the United States as a child, settling first in Rockland, Maine, before embarking on her storied career in New York City. Nevelson's work broke new ground in abstract art through her assemblages of found wooden forms and her exploration of space within room-sized environments. Her early life and artistic journey were marked by a continuous struggle for recognition in a male-dominated art world, eventually gaining attention in the 1950s for her unique constructions.
Nevelson's sculptures, often created from wood, were characterized by their puzzle-like complexity, with intricately cut pieces arranged into both wall sculptures and freestanding pieces. The works are typically painted in monochromatic black or white, emphasizing their textural and volumetric qualities. A key figure in 20th-century American sculpture, Nevelson's contributions extend beyond her artistic creations; she was also a pioneer in the realm of public art, engaging broader audiences with her monumental installations.
Her pieces are celebrated worldwide and can be found in museum and corporate collections across Europe and North America. Nevelson's legacy is that of a trailblazer who used her vision to transform everyday materials into profound expressions of space and narrative.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the exploration of Louise Nevelson's work offers an insightful glimpse into the evolution of American sculpture and the pivotal role she played in it. To stay informed about new sales and auction events related to Nevelson's work, sign up for updates and ensure you never miss an opportunity to engage with the history and future of this influential artist's contributions to the art world.