Yves Klein: biography, creative works, the best paintings of the French artist

Yves Klein (born April 28, 1928 - died June 6, 1962) was one of the most famous French artists of the mid-20th century, a participant in the New Realism movement. Paintings, sculptures, and other works by Yves Klein were created in just eight years, but he managed to leave a bright mark on contemporary art. In the work of this action artist, performance and conceptualism are born, and he is considered a precursor to minimalism and pop art.

Yves Klein. Photo portrait, 1961

Biography of Yves Klein

Yves Klein was born on April 28, 1928, in Nice. His parents were painters and taught their son many things, although he did not receive formal artistic education. At a young age, Yves studied seamanship, Eastern languages, and judo, with the latter becoming his main source of income for a long time. At the age of 25, Klein visited Japan and became the first European to obtain a black belt in this martial art.

Yves Klein. Horse, 1949

The artist decided to seriously pursue art only in 1954. By that time, he had already created several monochromes - sheets of paper or cardboard painted with one or two colors. Soon, two collections of such monochromes were published - simple rectangles of different colors with empty lines instead of a preface. Buyers were puzzled, and only later did critics call this public gesture conceptual art.

Yves Klein. Pink monochrome (МР 37), 1957

Yves Klein. Untitled pink monochrome, 1957

In 1957, the blue period in Yves Klein's work began. The exhibition that marked the beginning of it surprised the audience once again. The gallery displayed seven completely identical monochromes but with different prices. Then came the famous "Void" exhibition. Only those with beautifully designed invitations were allowed in (there were 3,000 eager visitors), and guests were treated to blue cocktails. Inside, visitors found an empty room and an equally empty museum shelf. The scandal was so great that it even reached the Soviet Union. This case was mentioned in scathing articles about contemporary Western art.

Yves Klein. Blue monochrome, 1959

In 1958, Klein decorated an opera house in Germany with original reliefs made from natural sponges painted in deep blue. During the same period, he began experimenting with anthropometries. This was a new genre in which the author distanced himself from applying paint to the canvas. Instead, models covered their bodies with paint and applied prints to the surface as "living brushes."

Yves Klein. Foyer of the opera house in Gelsenkirchen, 1958

Yves Klein. Relief with sponge (RE 10), 1960

Yves Klein. Anthropometry of the blue period, 1960

The largest posthumous exhibition of Yves Klein took place in 1961 in Germany. It featured colored and gold monochromes, and on the last day, a new genre was born: fire painting. Gas torches were used as instruments to create spots on cardboard. This was one of the author's last creative discoveries as he passed away shortly after.

Yves Klein. Fire painting (F 119), 1962

At the Cannes Film Festival, a film was shown in which contemporary life was portrayed as absurd and insane, with Klein and his paintings serving as one of the examples. The artist had a heart attack due to excitement, and it recurred, leading to his death on June 6, 1962. The dramatic nature of this event is heightened by the fact that just six months earlier, Klein had married his long-time love, Rotraut Uecker. Their son was born after the artist's death.

Yves Klein. Gold monochrome (MG 28), 1960

Yves Klein. Cosmogony, 1960

The artist's life was cut short at the age of only 34, but he accomplished a great deal, discovering a range of new techniques and methods in the visual arts. Perhaps, he is most famous for creating a distinctive shade patented in 1960 as International Klein Blue. This signature color constantly appears in the master's work: it is used in around 200 monochromes, 180 anthropometries, and numerous reliefs and sculptures.

Yves Klein. Monochrome (IKB 191), 1962

Yves Klein. Blue Venus (S 41), 1962

Yves Klein's Most Famous Paintings

Yves Klein's paintings are a constant search for new materials and creative methods. Color plays a special role in them as the author initially distanced himself from lines and drawing. Here are some well-known and characteristic works:

• Yellow and Pink Monochrome (1955). The artist claimed that only monochrome painting could help achieve spiritual absoluteness among all types of painting. He usually used a single color but occasionally combined two shades.
• Blue Monochrome (IKB 47) (1956). This is the author's classic work, as he considered blue to be the color closest to abstraction due to its associations with the boundless sky and sea.
• "Silence Is Golden" (1960). Some of Klein's monochromes are made of pure gold. He saw this material as a symbol of spirituality that was universally understood.
• Sculpture Made of Blue Sponge (SE 33) (1961). Natural sponge was another material that fascinated the artist. He compared it to the viewer, absorbing ideas and emotions.
• Cosmogony "Rain" (COS 22) (1961). One of the unique techniques created by the author was to leave traces of rain, wind, and dust on the canvas, allowing the natural elements themselves to become creators.

Yves Klein. Yellow and pink monochrome, 1955

Yves Klein. Blue monochrome (IKB 47), 1956

Yves Klein. Silence is gold, 1960

Yves Klein. Blue sponge sculpture (SE 33), 1961

Yves Klein. Cosmogony Rain (COS 22), 1961

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