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Jean Lurçat
(1892-1966)
Woman With a
Cigarette, 1920
Jean Lurçat was a
French Expressionist/Surrealist artist born in Vosges.
He was exposed to art as a young boy when his parents
introduced him to the founder of the Ecole Nancy, Victor
Prouve. He traveled to Paris when he was 20, enrolling
at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and then the Academie
Colarossi.
The Collar, 1921
Throughout his career,
Lurçat would form a style of his own, derived from his
travels through the Mediterranean, North Africa and the
Middle East. His unique style had a primitive, native
art feel and was composed of symbols and
hieroglyphic-like imagery. Within this style, he created
ceramics, paintings, tapestry and a number of other art
pieces.
Ceramic Bowl with Lid
"Le Coque" ceramic tile
It was in fact Lurçat's tapestry
creations that brought him the most attention, and he is
even often credited with bringing this age old art form
back into fashion. He has been called the leading
tapestry designer of the 20th century, and worked for
the Aubusson factory creating his textile designs.
Still Life Tapestry
Aubusson Tapestry
During his lifetime, Lurçat also traveled
to Spain and the Sahara where he was influenced to paint
a number of Surrealist landscapes. He was only briefly
associated with the Surrealist movement, as he
experimented often with Expressionism and tribal art.
