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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Movement Narrative Figuration

Choisis mon Livre

Tour de Babel miniature

Gomme, le chat

Le lac féerique

Les signes

Forêt

Empaty of touch

Prima

L’étudiante

Morphée et elle…

This silly world

Stop Putin's cockroaches

Au-delà des mots

La deuxième note

The clown

Erró. Fasciné, fascinant

Escape from reality

Dog fate

Shark

Shepherd of Civilizations

Catcher of the Moments

Other people

Look Up

Le temps d'un répit

Chez Moi avec Henry, mon chien

Famille sur la Plage

La Nature

Lower Manhattan New York

Attendre le tramway

Autumn on the lake

United c*cks

Christmas tree

No war

Mind Labyrinth

This is a cult

Entrance to the house

889

C4

Home Coming

Contabass on langeron

Fountain Neptuno

Kateryniuk

Pass by the angels

End of fun

Quiet sea

Torii

Post Human

Canoe on the shore of the lake

Freddie Mercury

Double senses

Dinardiquement vôtre

How strong we are

Big father's umbrella

Apple rescue

The way to the water

Not lost wings

Made in Love

Dubble Bubble

Wonderwoman

Cold Gulf Sream

Douce France

The Portal of Jellyfishes

God Father

Say hello to the master

Portrait of a girl with glasses

Offer