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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, L'Enfant, Nèle Nèle

L'Enfant

Nèle Nèle

Painting - 73 x 54 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 21.3 x 1.6 inch

$1,429

Painting, Margaux, Nèle Nèle

Margaux

Nèle Nèle

Painting - 116 x 89 x 4 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1.6 inch

$3,095

Print, G6, Peter Klasen

G6

Peter Klasen

Print - 51 x 61 x 2 cm Print - 20.1 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$476

Print, Sans titre, Erró

Sans titre

Erró

Print - 73 x 81 cm Print - 28.7 x 31.9 inch

$655

Print, Indiane, Erró

Indiane

Erró

Print - 114.5 x 77.5 cm Print - 45.1 x 30.5 inch

$1,012

Painting, Looking back, Erró

Looking back

Erró

Painting - 81 x 119 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 46.9 x 1.2 inch

$41,668

Print, Finger, Erró

Finger

Erró

Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch

$1,536

Sculpture, Apaisement, Changzheng Zhu

Apaisement

Changzheng Zhu

Sculpture - 32 x 24 x 24 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 9.4 x 9.4 inch

$952 $810

Print, Sans titre, Erró

Sans titre

Erró

Print - 59.5 x 55 cm Print - 23.4 x 21.7 inch

$583

Print, Skippy, Erró

Skippy

Erró

Print - 76.2 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm Print - 30 x 22 x 0.1 inch

$1,774

Print, Made In Japan, Erró

Made In Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Made in Japan, Erró

Made in Japan

Erró

Print - 64 x 46 cm Print - 25.2 x 18.1 inch

$583

Print, Dancer, Valerio Adami

Dancer

Valerio Adami

Print - 60 x 42 x 0.2 cm Print - 23.6 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,071

Painting, Neptuno, Kateryniuk Oleg

Neptuno

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 100 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,726

Painting, La lectrice, ShuJie Wang

La lectrice

ShuJie Wang

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

$1,667

Print, Pan, Valerio Adami

Pan

Valerio Adami

Print - 52 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 20.5 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$452

Painting, The (G)Uncles, ShuJie Wang

The (G)Uncles

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,905

Painting, Angel, Francky Criquet

Angel

Francky Criquet

Painting - 172 x 122 x 4 cm Painting - 67.7 x 48 x 1.6 inch

$4,881

Fine Art Drawings, Nu de profil, Changzheng Zhu

Nu de profil

Changzheng Zhu

Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0 inch

$149

Print, Tigre, Erró

Tigre

Erró

Print - 74.5 x 59 cm Print - 29.3 x 23.2 inch

$833

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