Antique French Abstract Modernist, 1959, Abstracted Birds in Flight

1940 - 1960

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

As most of you will have noticed, I mainly select figurative paintings for Skippings Fine Arts, as these have a greater audience on this site.

However, from time to time an abstract work "speaks" to me in such a way that I cannot resist acquiring it. This is the case with the here presented oil on canvas by Jean Claude Bédard (1928 - 1982).

Bédard, originally from Pau in the South West of France, where he also had studied, initially created figurative paintings. This changed when, in 1958, he became interested in prehistoric megalithic art, such as it can be found of Gavrinis in Brittany.

His abstract work is thoughtful, multi-layered, with depth, impasto, subtlety and great humanity. The influence of rock painting is noticeable in this painting.

Bédard exhibited at the Salon of the "Artists Witnesses of their Time", at the Salon of the Societé Nationale des Beaux Arts, and at the first Paris Biennale in 1959. The painting here presented dates from this period, when Bédard created a series of works representing abstracted birds in flight.

Bédard's work was shown in a retrospective at the Pompidou Centre in 1982 and is present in the collections of a number of French museums.

Measuring 24 x 33 cm and presented in a narrow artist's strip frame, it is signed at the lower right and signed again on the verso.

Physical Dimensions

Height

24cm (9.45")

Width

33cm (12.99")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1950s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA607877

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

As most of you will have noticed, I mainly select figurative paintings for Skippings Fine Arts, as these have a greater audience on this site.

“

However, from time to time an abstract work "speaks" to me in such a way that I cannot resist acquiring it.

Skippings Fine Arts

This is the case with the here presented oil on canvas by Jean Claude Bédard (1928 - 1982).

fig 1. Antique French abstract modernist, 1959, abstracted birds in flight — fig 1. Antique French Abstract Modernist, 1959, Abstracted Birds in Flight

Bédard, originally from Pau in the South West of France, where he also had studied, initially created figurative paintings. This changed when, in 1958, he became interested in prehistoric megalithic art, such as it can be found of Gavrinis in Brittany.

fig 2. Antique French abstract modernist, 1959, abstracted birds in flight — fig 2. Antique French Abstract Modernist, 1959, Abstracted Birds in Flight

His abstract work is thoughtful, multi-layered, with depth, impasto, subtlety and great humanity. The influence of rock painting is noticeable in this painting.

Bédard exhibited at the Salon of the "Artists Witnesses of their Time", at the Salon of the Societé Nationale des Beaux Arts, and at the first Paris Biennale in 1959. The painting here presented dates from this period, when Bédard created a series of works representing abstracted birds in flight.