LUCIEN COUTAUD 1904/1977

VERY NICE GOUACHE DATED 35 AND DEDICATED TO MADAME CUTTOLI.SA PATRON. RARE. GOOD STATE OF CONSERVATION

In 1931, the Galerie des Quatre Chemins, in Paris, organized his first private exhibition. In 1932, he worked almost exclusively in gouache, painting many bouquets of flowers and large esoteric compositions. He also produced theatrical sets and costumes for Le Château des Papes by André de Richaud directed by Charles Dullin at the Théâtre de l'Atelier and for Vénus et Adonis by André Obey directed by Michel Saint-Denis and represented by the Company of Fifteen. He is interested in the activities of the surrealist group, reads Breton, Soupault, Aragon and many others; however, he does not work alongside the group because he wants to keep his independence.
Until 1934, Coutaud's works mainly represent simplified characters with full and soft shapes, his palette frequently uses a milky blue which will be called "Coutaud blue". From 1934 to 1939, he mainly produced large gouaches and worked on large decorative compositions with precise design, multiple and joyful colors, the composition of which frequently recalls a theater scene.
Coutaud attended the multiple manifestations of the avant-gardes, rubbing shoulders with the surrealists without really adhering to the group, devoting himself since 1940 to an art which he himself described as "surreal". During these years, he affirmed his graphic style close to surrealism through the use of unusual imagery where dreams and realities intertwine.

Ref: 3FYMZRF73V