Movement Narrative Figuration

Narrative Figuration first appeared in the 1960s, as a response to abstraction. Although not as well-known as Pop art, Narrative Figuration created a community of artists across Europe who engaged with the colourful, entertaining and heavily political movement. Despite it being commonly associated with Pop art, American Pop art was considered too hegemonic and formal in comparison to Narrative Figuration, which sought to display the political struggles of the time. 


Narrative Figuration was a concept invented by art critic, Gérald Gassiot-Talabot in 1964. Along with artists Bernard Rancillac and Hervé Télémaque, Gassiot-Talabot organised the exhibition “Mythologies quotidiennes." Artists such as Eduardo Arroyo, René Bertholo, Gianni Bertini, Öyvind Fahlström, Peter Klasen, Jacques Monory, Antonio Recalcati and Jan Voss took part in the exhibition. They sought to communicate socio-political changes via their works, and did so through the use of comic strips, films, photography and advertising campaigns. Most artists of the Narrative Figuration movement were inspired by Herbert Marcuse's Marxist theories of May 68; believing the rebellious potential of artists' works should be reflected in their aesthetic, as opposed to discourse. Artists reproduced shocking images found in the media, using visual language to convey the political urgency of the time. May 1968 was a tumultuous period of civil unrest, where strikes and demonstrations nearly stopped France's economy all together. 


Hervé Télémaque: born on November 5, 1937, Télémaque is a French painter of Haitian origin, and is a central influence to Narrative Figuration. 


Bernard Rancillac is a French artist, painter and sculptor born in 1931 in Paris. He continues to live and work in the Paris region. Along with Gassiot-Talabot, Hervé Télémaque and Foldes, he co-organised the exhibition "Mythologies quotidiennes."


Jacques Monory: one of the main figures of the Narrative Figuration movement. Monoroy was deeply concerned by the violence depicted everyday, and his heartache can be felt in his heavily emotive paintings. Monory develops his works through photography and cinematography appropriated from contemporary society. His works are recognisable through their use of monochromy, type of composition and themes. 


Peter Klasen: in 1964, he participated in the exhibition "Mythologies quotidiennes", which brought together 34 Narrative Figuration artists in the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris. 


Although Narrative Figuration was somewhat forgotten after the 1980s, it can still be considered one of the most important contemporary art movements in France. Discover artists like, Valerio Adami, Antonio Segui and Erró on Artsper, who continue to incorporate the values of this inspiring movement in their works. 

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Print, Explosif, Peter Klasen

Peter Klasen

Print - 60 x 55 x 1 cm Print - 23.6 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 918

Print, Feu, Hervé Télémaque

Feu

Hervé Télémaque

Print - 76 x 56 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 inch

CHF 870

Print, Tennis, Gilles Aillaud

Gilles Aillaud

Print - 76 x 56 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 inch

CHF 1,160

Fine Art Drawings, Coltelli, Valerio Adami

Valerio Adami

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 14.2 inch

CHF 7,732

Print, Sweet Home, Tosin Oyeniyi

Tosin Oyeniyi

Print - 66 x 86.4 x 2.5 cm Print - 26 x 34 x 1 inch

CHF 1,216

Painting, M.50, Peter Klasen

Peter Klasen

Painting - 65 x 50 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

CHF 10,148

Painting, The Bus Stop, Jun Gu Noh

Jun Gu Noh

Painting - 45 x 28 x 0.2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 11 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,305

Fine Art Drawings, Hommage à Léger, Erró

Erró

Fine Art Drawings - 47 x 38 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.5 x 15 inch

CHF 9,182

Fine Art Drawings, Tanger, Eduardo Arroyo

Eduardo Arroyo

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 72.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 28.5 inch

CHF 11,598

Painting, Dinner, Sargis Zaqaryan

Sargis Zaqaryan

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 497

Painting, Zeus, Michal Maka

Michal Maka

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1 inch

CHF 1,498

Painting, You, Elsa Garate

You

Elsa Garate

Painting - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 5,992

Painting, Les Pensées, Nèle Nèle

Nèle Nèle

Painting - 100 x 81 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,933

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 10, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

CHF 338

Painting, Serie Plage 3, Marie Renaud

Marie Renaud

Painting - 61 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 580

Fine Art Drawings, La Sieste, Jules Mimouni

Jules Mimouni

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 2 inch

CHF 1,208

Photography, The Bulb, Eric Ouaknine

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 105 x 150 x 0.2 cm Photography - 41.3 x 59.1 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,450

Painting, Pandora, Valerio Adami

Valerio Adami

Painting - 97 x 130 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 51.2 x 1 inch

CHF 72,487

Print, Trio Pépé, Erró

Erró

Print - 77 x 61 cm Print - 30.3 x 24 inch

CHF 532

Print, Espace, Erró

Erró

Print - 56 x 54 cm Print - 22 x 21.3 inch

CHF 411

Print, NB, Erró

NB

Erró

Print - 83 x 41 cm Print - 32.7 x 16.1 inch

CHF 1,150

Painting, Au Cinéma, ShuJie Wang

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,546

Painting, The gun, Erró

Erró

Painting - 162 x 97 cm Painting - 63.8 x 38.2 inch

CHF 72,487

Print, Soap Stars, Erró

Erró

Print - 60 x 45 x 2 cm Print - 23.6 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,383

Print, Marilyn Monroe, Erró

Erró

Print - 85.1 x 106.7 cm Print - 33.5 x 42 inch

CHF 797

Print, MM, Eduardo Arroyo

MM

Eduardo Arroyo

Print - 72 x 100 cm Print - 28.3 x 39.4 inch

CHF 1,701

Print, Vermeer, Erró

Erró

Print - 58.4 x 80 cm Print - 23 x 31.5 inch

CHF 713

Print, Nora, Erró

Erró

Print - 70 x 50 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

CHF 483

Print, The War of Stars, Erró

Erró

Print - 76.2 x 55.9 cm Print - 30 x 22 inch

CHF 923

Print, Skippy, Erró

Erró

Print - 61 x 45.7 cm Print - 24 x 18 inch

CHF 797

Print, The Sisters, Erró

Erró

Print - 91.4 x 53.3 cm Print - 36 x 21 inch

CHF 797

Print, The Moonwalker, Erró

Erró

Print - 76.2 x 55.9 cm Print - 30 x 22 inch

CHF 797

Print, Tank, Erró

Erró

Print - 88.9 x 58.4 cm Print - 35 x 23 inch

CHF 839

Print, Swordslady, Erró

Erró

Print - 76.2 x 55.9 cm Print - 30 x 22 inch

CHF 797

Print, Silver Saber, Erró

Erró

Print - 77.5 x 55.9 cm Print - 30.5 x 22 inch

CHF 755

Print, Marilyn, Erró

Erró

Print - 58.4 x 80 cm Print - 23 x 31.5 inch

CHF 797

Print, Forgotten Future, Erró

Erró

Print - 99.1 x 54.6 cm Print - 39 x 21.5 inch

CHF 755

Print, Catman, Erró

Erró

Print - 91.4 x 53.3 cm Print - 36 x 21 inch

CHF 755

Print, Amazon, Erró

Erró

Print - 77.5 x 57.2 cm Print - 30.5 x 22.5 inch

CHF 923

Painting, Première Amour, ShuJie Wang

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 918