Jean Criton (1930-2022)
La Nuit gonflable 1971... Lot 127
result :
Not available
Estimate :
Subscribers only
Jean Criton (1930-2022)
La Nuit gonflable 1971 Oil on canvas signed and dated lower right, titled on back 130 x 97 cm Jean Criton was born in Paris in 1930. At just 17, he entered the Charpentier academy, where he befriended Bernard Réquichot. In 1950, they tied for first place at the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris. Initially influenced by Jacques Villon and Vieira da Silva, by 1956 he was fully committed to lyrical abstraction - and successfully so! He then bought a house in the Luberon with his wife, also an artist, Dominique d'Acher and his friend Bernard Réquichot... but 1961 marked a definitive turning point: Réquichot committed suicide and Jean Criton discovered the work of Francis Bacon. Little by little, he incorporated figuration into his work, which he never abandoned. Pierre Restany invited him to take part in the Paris Biennial with Martial Raysse, and his works became increasingly colorful, with flesh, eyes and bodies making their appearance. In the 70s, he exhibited alongside the great names of narrative figuration (Monory, Aillaud, Klasen, Rancillac, Stämpfli etc.).) and mutilated body parts appeared in architectural settings that soon gave way to a long series of imaginary buildings and places worthy of the best science-fiction scenarios... soon all that remained were the lines and a return to strict abstraction in the late 1990s.
Here, a canvas from 1971, part of a series of works begun in 1961, a period of return to figuration. Here, Jean Criton explores the body and its organs in tight frames, where straps constrain them and fences enclose them. It's a dystopian universe, never seen before and belonging only to the artist, where we admire the precision of the drawing: the perspectives, the reliefs evoking swellings, the shadows, give life to beings that are nonetheless non-existent. Criton dares to predict that, like a science-fiction writer whose writings come true, his canvases could be painted today and proudly displayed on the white walls of contemporary art galleries alongside the most promising young artists!
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.