Jean Metzinger

Born in Nantes in 1883 and died in Paris in 1956, Jean Metzinger moved through several artistic movements before becoming one of the artists associated with Cubism. In 1900, he studied with the portrait painter Hippolyte Touront at the Académie Cours Cambronne in Nantes; his training is also described as being based on a Neo-Impressionist practice. He settled in Paris at the age of twenty to devote himself to painting, experimenting with Neo-Impressionism, Divisionism and Fauvism before embracing Cubism.

Le Goûter, dated 1911 and held at the Museum of Art in Philadelphia, offers a concrete insight into his exploration: Charles Sala describes a figurative element placed at the centre, around which space unfolds in coloured facets. That same year, his paintings were shown in room 41 of the Salon des indépendants, and then at the Salon d’automne, where, according to Sala, they provoked strong reactions and a hostile reception.

This exploration was accompanied by theoretical reflection: in collaboration with Albert Gleizes, Metzinger prepared Du Cubisme, published in Paris by Figuière in 1912. Charles Sala presents him as a spokesperson for the Cubist group and notes that his abilities as a painter and writer helped make the movement comprehensible to the public.

A Nature morte from 1917, recorded at the Beyeler Gallery in Basel, bears witness to work on geometrised compositions and on the possibility of reconstructing depicted volumes. After 1924, his painting oscillated between figuration and abstraction while retaining Cubist echoes; from 1930 onwards, his approach became more classical without abandoning his preoccupations with form and volume. He also held several teaching posts, including at the Académie de la Palette in Paris.

Works recorded at auction

Kornfeld · Lot 403

Nature morte à la guitare et à la pipe

Black charcoal

Catalogue period : 2020-09-17

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 12500

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Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Lot 115

Nature morte à la cafetière, aux cigarettes et au verre, 1914

Charcoal and gouache on paper

Original catalogue wording

Nature morte à la cafetière, aux cigarettes et au verre, 1914
Kohle und Gouache auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2018-06-20

Published result : 42539 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 10000–15000

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Genève Enchères · Lot 93

La maison

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

La maison
huile sur toile

Date to be documented

Published result : 11000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 10000–15000

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