Artworks

All artworks

Artists

All artists

Galeries

All galleries

Categories

Subcategories

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. 
Read more

Save your search and find it in your favorites

Saved search

Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches

Unsaved search

A problem occurred

Fine Art Drawings, L'acrobate 1, Changzheng Zhu

L'acrobate 1

Changzheng Zhu

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

$149

Painting, Good Luck, Erró

Good Luck

Erró

Painting - 99 x 99 cm Painting - 39 x 39 inch

$28,572

Painting, Blanc#2, Marie Renaud

Blanc#2

Marie Renaud

Painting - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$667

Photography, Secrets, Eric Ouaknine

Secrets

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 120 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Angeline, Eric Ouaknine

Angeline

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Moon Sisters, Eric Ouaknine

Moon Sisters

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 103 x 150 x 0.2 cm Photography - 40.6 x 59.1 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, The Ghoul, Eric Ouaknine

The Ghoul

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 110 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 43.3 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Afrocalypso, Eric Ouaknine

Afrocalypso

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Origins, Eric Ouaknine

Origins

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 82 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 32.3 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, From Hell, Eric Ouaknine

From Hell

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Human Hunger, Eric Ouaknine

Human Hunger

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 67 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Intima, Eric Ouaknine

Intima

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Photography, Predators, Eric Ouaknine

Predators

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 82 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 32.3 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Painting, L'Oeuvre, Marie Renaud

L'Oeuvre

Marie Renaud

Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$536

Photography, Jiocunda, Eric Ouaknine

Jiocunda

Eric Ouaknine

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Painting, 1883, Marie Renaud

1883

Marie Renaud

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

$548

Print, Reflexion, Erró

Reflexion

Erró

Print - 100 x 55 cm Print - 39.4 x 21.7 inch

Sold

Print, Le mariage, Erró

Le mariage

Erró

Print - 92 x 50 cm Print - 36.2 x 19.7 inch

Sold

Print, Orson Welles, Erró

Orson Welles

Erró

Print - 60 x 81 cm Print - 23.6 x 31.9 inch

Sold

Print, Picasso, Erró

Picasso

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Silver sabler, Erró

Silver sabler

Erró

Print - 78 x 57 cm Print - 30.7 x 22.4 inch

Sold

Print, Behind, Erró

Behind

Erró

Print - 75 x 54.5 cm Print - 29.5 x 21.5 inch

Sold

Print, Verra, Erró

Verra

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Sans titre, Erró

Sans titre

Erró

Print - 83.5 x 57.5 cm Print - 32.9 x 22.6 inch

$655

Print, La Cible, Jacques Monory

La Cible

Jacques Monory

Print - 120 x 160 x 3 cm Print - 47.2 x 63 x 1.2 inch

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Violin, Valerio Adami

Violin

Valerio Adami

Fine Art Drawings - 21.5 x 13.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.5 x 5.3 inch

Sold

Print, Silver Surfer, Erró

Silver Surfer

Erró

Print - 44.5 x 64.5 x 0.3 cm Print - 17.5 x 25.4 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Print, Reflection, Erró

Reflection

Erró

Print - 100.3 x 55.9 cm Print - 39.5 x 22 inch

Sold

Print, Skippy, Erró

Skippy

Erró

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

Sold

Print, The Wedding, Erró

The Wedding

Erró

Print - 91.4 x 50.8 cm Print - 36 x 20 inch

Sold

Print, Verra, Erró

Verra

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Denise, Erró

Denise

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Red Sonja, Erró

Red Sonja

Erró

Print - 91.4 x 53.3 x 0.3 cm Print - 36 x 21 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Print, Nuit, Jacques Monory

Nuit

Jacques Monory

Print - 55 x 90 x 1 cm Print - 21.7 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

Sold

Print, Batman, Erró

Batman

Erró

Print - 58 x 59 x 0.3 cm Print - 22.8 x 23.2 x 0.1 inch

Sold

Print, La Habana, Erró

La Habana

Erró

Print - 57 x 45 cm Print - 22.4 x 17.7 inch

Sold

Painting, Sans nom, Erró

Sans nom

Erró

Painting - 53 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 20.9 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Bande à Picsou, Erró

Bande à Picsou

Erró

Painting - 56 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 22 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

Sold

Print, Sonia, Erró

Sonia

Erró

Print - 90 x 53 cm Print - 35.4 x 20.9 inch

Sold

Print, NB, Erró

NB

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Minerva, Erró

Minerva

Erró

Print - 45 x 34 cm Print - 17.7 x 13.4 inch

Sold

Print, Swordslady, Erró

Swordslady

Erró

Print - 78 x 56 cm Print - 30.7 x 22 inch

Sold

Print, Gun lady, Erró

Gun lady

Erró

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

Sold

Print, Mamunia, Erró

Mamunia

Erró

Print - 45 x 34 cm Print - 17.7 x 13.4 inch

Sold

Print, Leïla, Erró

Leïla

Erró

Print - 45 x 34 cm Print - 17.7 x 13.4 inch

Sold

Print, Abano, Eduardo Arroyo

Abano

Eduardo Arroyo

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

Sold

9/11