Venard

Claude Venard (1913-1999)

Venard was born in France 1913, he dedicated himself fully to painting at the age of seventeen he studied at the École des Arts Appliques for six years, having fled the Académie des Beaux-Arts after just 48 hours. In 1938 he signed the Rupture manifesto and participated in the first exhibition of the influential group Forces Nouvelles, alongside Gruber and Tal-Coat at the Galerie Billiet-Vorms. A close affinity subsequently developed among these painters and together they were instrumental in forging the aesthetic of the immediate post-war period of the Ecole de Paris. Venard quickly became known for his rich impasto and varying texture. Influenced by the Cubist and Abstract movements, Venard's work captured the essence of Parisian life during the 1950s. His bold use of color, geometric shapes, and expressive brushwork set him apart as a significant figure in the art world. During the 1950s, Paris experienced a cultural renaissance, attracting artists from around the world. Venard was at the forefront of this movement, exploring new artistic techniques and pushing the boundaries of traditional art. Inspired by the works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Venardembraced Cubism, a movement that shattered traditional notions of perspective and representation. In Venard's post-Cubist works, he incorporated elements of abstraction, creating a unique visual language that blended both styles. His paintings were characterized by bold, vibrant colours, thick brushstrokes, and fragmented geometric forms. Venard's use of flat planes and sharp angles created a sense of dynamism and energy in his compositions. One of Venard's notable series from this period is his still-life paintings. He transformed ordinary objects such as fruits, flowers, and bottles into dynamic compositions, bursting with color and movement. His mastery of colour allowed him to create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality on the canvas, despite the fragmented forms. His often depicted scenes of everyday life in Paris, capturing the bustling streets, cafes, and markets. His works exuded a sense of joie de vivre, celebrating the vibrancy and spirit of the city. Through his use of bold colours and expressive brushwork, Venard conveyed the energy and atmosphere of Parisian life during the post-war period. Before his death during the final hours of the twentieth century, Claude Venard had become a highly celebrated artist having featured in contemporary art exhibitions around the world since 1935. He held numerous successful one man shows in practically all the capitals of Europe, and established an international reputation by showing all over the world.