Gérard Fromanger (1939–2021)

In the early 1960s, at a time when abstract art dominated the art scene, the young Gérard Fromanger (1939–2021) turned resolutely towards figurative art, quickly becoming one of the leading figures of the New Figuration movement, also known as Narrative Figuration. This movement, born in reaction to abstraction, drew its inspiration from consumer society and its constant stream of images. The artists of the Nouvelle Figuration sought to reintroduce reality into their works, whether through scenes of everyday life or social and political statements. Coming to the public’s attention in 1964 and 1965, first at the Salon de Mai and then during an exhibition at the Aimé Maeght Gallery, Fromanger established himself as a socially engaged artist. He is renowned for his monochrome silhouettes and his bold blocks of colour, marking a revival in figurative art. His work explores the motif whilst liberating colour. With this vibrant and colourful painting entitled Danièle, from the Splendeurs II series (1976), Fromanger explores the motif whilst liberating colour and pays tribute to the painter Serge Rezvani and his wife Danièle. In this same series, Fromanger also immortalises his intellectual and artist friends, including Jean-Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault and Jacques Prévert. 

In the early 1960s, when abstract art dominated, Gérard Fromanger (1939–2021) turned decisively towards figuration, quickly becoming one of the leading figures of Nouvelle Figuration, also known as Narrative Figuration. This movement, born as a reaction to abstraction, drew inspiration from consumer society and its constant flow of imagery. Artists in Nouvelle Figuration sought to reintroduce reality into their works, whether through scenes of everyday life or social and political statements. Fromanger rose to public attention in 1964 and 1965, first at the Salon de Mai and later in an exhibition at the Aimé Maeght Gallery. He established himself as a committed artist, recognised for his monochrome silhouettes and bold colour fields, marking a renewal in figurative art. The vibrant and colourful painting Danièle, part of the Splendeurs II series (1976), explores the liberation of motifs and pays homage to the painter Serge Rezvani and his wife Danièle. In this same series, Fromanger also immortalised his intellectual and artist friends, including Jean-Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Prévert.