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.
Erró
Hommage à Picasso et à Fernand Léger
Erró
Print - 56 x 81 x 1 cm Print - 22 x 31.9 x 0.4 inch
$1,563
Hommage à Picasso et à Fernand Léger (noir et blanc)
Erró
Print - 57 x 81 x 1 cm Print - 22.4 x 31.9 x 0.4 inch
$1,005
Chairman Mao’s Long Journey, Breakfast in Oslo
Erró
Painting - 104 x 83 x 2 cm Painting - 40.9 x 32.7 x 0.8 inch
$8,372
Eduardo Arroyo
Paris-Madrid-Paris gravure originale
Eduardo Arroyo
Print - 76 x 56 x 1 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 x 0.4 inch
$1,563
Seuls mon coeur et moi sommes éveillés
Eduardo Arroyo
Print - 45 x 61 cm Print - 17.7 x 24 inch
$447
Nolwenn Samson
Fire in my soul
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 180 x 180 x 6 cm Painting - 70.9 x 70.9 x 2.4 inch
$13,953
Does My Happiness Upset you ?!
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 65 x 54 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch
$2,791
Aqueous transmission
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 100 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch
$5,358
I used to think that love was forever
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,572
Valerio Adami
Come dare i primi soccorsi ann cane
Valerio Adami
Painting - 81 x 100 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 inch
$94,883
Peter Klasen
Grand visage avec lunettes ouvert/fermé
Peter Klasen
Painting - 73 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$7,814
Jacques Monory
Tosin Oyeniyi
Eugene Gorbachenko
On the way to the light
Eugene Gorbachenko
Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,674
External and internal
Eugene Gorbachenko
Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,116
This is a cult
Eugene Gorbachenko
Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,116
Portrait of a girl with glasses
Eugene Gorbachenko
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,233
Rahma Lhoussig
While time is passing by
Rahma Lhoussig
Painting - 130 x 150 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 59.1 x 2 inch
$5,581
Waiting for the World to be big enough
Rahma Lhoussig
Painting - 100 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 2 inch
$4,019
Will see you when I fall asleep II
Rahma Lhoussig
Painting - 130 x 150 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 59.1 x 2 inch
$5,581
Sophia Oshodin
Riding-Towards-Happiness-III
Sophia Oshodin
Painting - 100 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 2 inch
$4,688
A-Farewell-to-My-Problem-Days
Sophia Oshodin
Painting - 91 x 91 x 5 cm Painting - 35.8 x 35.8 x 2 inch
$3,907
Iding-Towards-Happiness-III
Sophia Oshodin
Painting - 91 x 91 x 5 cm Painting - 35.8 x 35.8 x 2 inch
$3,907
Changzheng Zhu
Le coq 5
Changzheng Zhu
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.4 inch
$102
Corps ovale sur fond rouge
Changzheng Zhu
Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$893 $759
Grand enroulement raku lanc
Changzheng Zhu
Sculpture - 20 x 22 x 19 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 8.7 x 7.5 inch
$580
Nu de dos gris
Changzheng Zhu
Painting - 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,672 $1,422
Nu de profil bleu 2
Changzheng Zhu
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.4 inch
$102
Nu assis bleu
Changzheng Zhu
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.4 inch
$102
Le Globe
Changzheng Zhu
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.1 inch
$102
Petit enroulement vert
Changzheng Zhu
Sculpture - 16 x 19 x 15 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 7.5 x 5.9 inch
Sold
Massoud Hayoun
Our fearless mothers, who bathed in the shadows
Massoud Hayoun
Painting - 61 x 91 x 5 cm Painting - 24 x 35.8 x 2 inch
$4,130
My ancestors came to my show in Morocco, wa oult, ‘yak chi bas makayn, ya oueldna laaziz (1)
Massoud Hayoun
Painting - 76 x 101 x 5 cm Painting - 29.9 x 39.8 x 2 inch
$5,581
My grandfather visits the Egyptian Room at the British Museum
Massoud Hayoun
Painting - 91 x 101 x 5 cm Painting - 35.8 x 39.8 x 2 inch
$5,581
My ancestors came to my show in Morocco, wa oult, ‘yak chi bas makayn, ya oueldna laaziz
Massoud Hayoun
Painting - 91 x 122 x 5 cm Painting - 35.8 x 48 x 2 inch
$6,140