Visage, 1948 by Leopold Survage
Visage, 1948 by Leopold Survage
Leopold Survage (1879 – 1968) was a French painter of Finnish origin.
MEDIUM: Casein on panel
DIMENSION: (unframed) 25.6 x 18.1 ins/ 65.0 x 46.0 cm
SIGNATURE: Signed ‘Survage’ and dated (lower right)
Price: £POA.
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Leopold Survage is best known for his modern, abstract portraits although he also produced stage, tapestry and textile designs.
Provenance
Galerie des Granges, Genève;
Sale: Me Blache Versailles, 25 November 1979, lot 69;
Sale: Artcurial Briest Poulain F. Tajan, 23 March 2009, lot 114;
Private collection, Monaco
Biography
Leopold Survage (1879 – 1968) was a French painter of Finnish origin. He originally learnt to play the piano but after an illness at age 22 he rethought his career and went to the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture where he attended the studios of K.A. Korovin and L.O. Pasternak.
In 1905 he formed the Symbolist group “The Blue Rose” and in 1910 exhibited with the “Knave of Diamonds” society with Kandinsky, Chagall and Malevitch.
In France, Survage attended the academies of H. Matisse and F. Colarossi. In 1908, he exhibited with the Cubist group and went on to exhibit with the “Section D’Or” group. From the 1930’s Survage‘s compositions became increasingly surreal, regularly incorporating metaphysical symbolism.
In 1939, he started to use the old method of making casein paints that maintain their colour for two thousand years. The translucent and matted shades of these paints made his compositions more tangible.
Survage stayed in Paris during WWII, continuing to practice art. In the 1950s-1960s he created cartons for tapestry manufacture and was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1963.
Survage ‘s works can be found at the Museums all over the world.