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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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Print, Capriccio, Valerio Adami

Capriccio

Valerio Adami

Print - 90 x 45 x 1 cm Print - 35.4 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Print, L'Ange, Valerio Adami

L'Ange

Valerio Adami

Print - 80 x 59 x 1 cm Print - 31.5 x 23.2 x 0.4 inch

€480

Print, L'oeil, Peter Klasen

L'oeil

Peter Klasen

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

€480

Print, Fishermen, Tosin Oyeniyi

Fishermen

Tosin Oyeniyi

Print - 66 x 91.4 x 2.5 cm Print - 26 x 36 x 1 inch

€1,220

Print, Dreamer, Tosin Oyeniyi

Dreamer

Tosin Oyeniyi

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

€1,126

Painting, Le Cheval, Elsa Garate

Le Cheval

Elsa Garate

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€4,500

Painting, Lights, Elsa Garate

Lights

Elsa Garate

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€4,500

Painting, La Diva, ShuJie Wang

La Diva

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€160

Painting, Cow Girl, Elsa Garate

Cow Girl

Elsa Garate

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€4,500

Print, Abaque, Eduardo Arroyo

Abaque

Eduardo Arroyo

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

€250

Print, Abalé, Eduardo Arroyo

Abalé

Eduardo Arroyo

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

€250

Print, Abakan, Eduardo Arroyo

Abakan

Eduardo Arroyo

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

€250

Painting, Monks, Kateryniuk Oleg

Monks

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 85 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 33.5 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,320

Painting, Livres, ShuJie Wang

Livres

ShuJie Wang

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

€450

Painting, La belle, ShuJie Wang

La belle

ShuJie Wang

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

€190

Painting, La rousse, ShuJie Wang

La rousse

ShuJie Wang

Painting - 31 x 23 x 1 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€120

Painting, Arbres, ShuJie Wang

Arbres

ShuJie Wang

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

€190