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Guy NicodLiberté Égalité Fraternité Symbolic Composition French Modernist Gouache
$576.98
£430
€497.44
CA$810.86
A$881.83
CHF 464.57
MX$10,709.93
NOK 5,840.52
SEK 5,475.02
DKK 3,734.61
About the Item
Title: Liberté Égalité Fraternité Symbolic Composition French Modernist Gouache
Guy Nicod (French 1923 - 2021)
Gouache on artist paper, unframed
Size: 12.75 x 9.5 inches (height x width)
Provenance: Artists estate, France
Condition: good overall condition; light handling creases, some age toning and minor edge wear, colours remain fresh and well defined
Description:
A powerful and symbolic gouache painting by French modernist Guy Nicod, this work explores themes of freedom, humanity, and rebirth through an allegorical composition inspired by the French national motto, Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. At the centre of the image, a seated nude figure is curled protectively within the roundel of a coin-like medallion inscribed with the words “1907” and “Liberté Égalité Fraternité.” Below, two open hands cradle the emblem, their wrists bound with broken chains — a striking motif of emancipation and resilience.
The composition is framed by an intense background of molten reds, violets, and ochres, which creates a sense of heat and struggle, as if the figure has emerged from fire or revolution. The bold impasto and expressive layering of gouache amplify the emotional charge, balancing symbolism with painterly texture. Nicod’s palette — dominated by reds, whites, and metallic tones — conveys both suffering and renewal, evoking the broader humanist ideals at the heart of modern France’s artistic and political identity.
This work represents one of Nicod’s more conceptually charged pieces, merging figurative and abstract tendencies in a style that bridges fine art and graphic design. The coin’s circular form doubles as both halo and constraint, situating the central figure in a timeless cycle of liberation and vulnerability.
A rare and deeply expressive piece, it reflects Nicod’s ability to infuse modernist technique with philosophical meaning. Collectors of post-war French art and symbolic modernism will appreciate its thematic depth, dynamic use of colour, and its nuanced dialogue between individuality, society, and freedom.
- Creator:Guy Nicod (1923 - 2021, French)
- Dimensions:Height: 12.75 in (32.39 cm)Width: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Cirencester, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU509317048542

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