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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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Painting, Les signes, ShuJie Wang

Les signes

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 21 x 30 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.8 inch

CHF 186

Painting, Forêt, ShuJie Wang

Forêt

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 21 x 30 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.8 inch

CHF 186

Painting, Prima, Kateryniuk Oleg

Prima

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 80 x 110 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,109

Painting, The clown, Sargis Zaqaryan

The clown

Sargis Zaqaryan

Painting - 33.5 x 23.5 x 2 cm Painting - 13.2 x 9.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 194

Painting, Dog fate, Kateryniuk Oleg

Dog fate

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 90 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,539

Painting, Shark, Kateryniuk Oleg

Shark

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 135 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 53.1 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,750

Painting, Look Up, Kateryniuk Oleg

Look Up

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 140 x 105 x 2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,867

Painting, La Nature, ShuJie Wang

La Nature

ShuJie Wang

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

CHF 439

Painting, No war, Eugene Gorbachenko

No war

Eugene Gorbachenko

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 1,953

Print, 889, Peter Klasen

889

Peter Klasen

Print - 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

CHF 371

Print, C4, Peter Klasen

C4

Peter Klasen

Print - 61 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 24 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 469

Painting, Kateryniuk, Kateryniuk Oleg

Kateryniuk

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 110 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,461

Painting, Torii, Eugene Gorbachenko

Torii

Eugene Gorbachenko

Painting - 42 x 60 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

CHF 977

Print, Wonderwoman, Erró

Wonderwoman

Erró

Print - 56 x 92 cm Print - 22 x 36.2 inch

CHF 635

Print, Douce France, Paxal

Douce France

Paxal

Print - 70 x 70 cm Print - 27.6 x 27.6 inch

CHF 342

Painting, God Father, Nolwenn Samson

God Father

Nolwenn Samson

Painting - 130 x 162 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 63.8 x 2 inch

CHF 9,570

Painting, Offer, Eugene Gorbachenko

Offer

Eugene Gorbachenko

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 977

Painting, Talk to me, Kateryniuk Oleg

Talk to me

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 125 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 49.2 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 5,742

Print, Qui a peur ?, Paxal

Qui a peur ?

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Print, Lion El Gato, Paxal

Lion El Gato

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Print, Saint Sébastien, Paxal

Saint Sébastien

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Print, Chair à Canon, Paxal

Chair à Canon

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Print, Gala's Dream, Paxal

Gala's Dream

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Print, Le Lotus Rouge, Paxal

Le Lotus Rouge

Paxal

Print - 64 x 64 x 0.5 cm Print - 25.2 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch

CHF 244

Painting, Madonna, Eugene Gorbachenko

Madonna

Eugene Gorbachenko

Painting - 100 x 79 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,930

Print, Noir N°13, Jacques Monory

Noir N°13

Jacques Monory

Print - 143 x 220 x 3 cm Print - 56.3 x 86.6 x 1.2 inch

CHF 5,859

Painting, Le fauteuil, Vidia Ganase

Le fauteuil

Vidia Ganase

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

CHF 781

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 307, Denis Poughon

Folie 307

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 16, Denis Poughon

Folie 16

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 11, Denis Poughon

Folie 11

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 8, Denis Poughon

Folie 8

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 6, Denis Poughon

Folie 6

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 10, Denis Poughon

Folie 10

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 342

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 7, Denis Poughon

Folie 7

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 342

Painting, Le Polaroïd, Erró

Le Polaroïd

Erró

Painting - 104 x 89 cm Painting - 40.9 x 35 inch

CHF 35,156

Painting, Le vase, Vidia Ganase

Le vase

Vidia Ganase

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

CHF 781