Mid-Century French Abstract Woodland Tapestry Design, Gouache on Paper, c. 1960
Jacques Dollé's “Sur la forêt, les noirs couperets de la nuit…” is a striking mid-century French tapestry design executed in gouache on paper circa 1960. The composition transforms the forest into a dynamic arrangement of interlocking geometric and organic forms, balancing abstraction with suggestions of foliage, branches and architectural structures.
A sophisticated palette of turquoise, petrol blue, cobalt, pale blue and deep navy is punctuated by vivid red, burgundy, charcoal black and warm ivory. Broad, angular shapes overlap with curved motifs and finely hatched passages, creating a compelling interplay between solid colour, linear texture and visual rhythm. The contrasting light and dark areas suggest a nocturnal landscape, while the fragmented forms give the composition a distinctly modernist character.
The work is a preparatory design for a tapestry, reflecting the close relationship between painting and textile art in post-war France. Its carefully organised colour fields and clearly defined contours make it particularly interesting to collectors of mid-century decorative art, French modernism and historic tapestry designs.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Technique : Gouache on paper
Title : Sur la forêt, les noirs couperets de la nuit… (Over the Forest, the Black Blades of Night…)
Date : Circa 1960
Dimensions : 59 × 40 cm (23.2 × 15.7 in)
Framed dimensions : 70 × 50 cm (27.6 × 19.7 in)
Signature : Artist's name stamp and handwritten title and annotations on the reverse.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jacques Dollé (1926–2016) was a French painter and lithographer whose work explored the landscapes of the Loire Valley and Sologne, alongside the expressive possibilities of simplified form and colour. He studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and developed a distinctive approach to landscape painting, constructing compositions through carefully balanced planes, stylised volumes and broad areas of colour.
Dollé’s paintings often move between recognisable landscape and near-abstraction. His treatment of trees, waterways and rural environments emphasises the overall structure of a scene rather than meticulous detail. Earthy browns, ochres and other natural tones feature prominently in his broader artistic vocabulary.
Alongside his easel painting, Dollé undertook decorative commissions, including tapestry designs for the Mobilier national, woven at Aubusson, as well as mural mosaics. His work therefore occupies an interesting position between postwar French painting and the applied arts, where the translation of painted compositions into textile became an important creative practice.
He also illustrated works by the French writer Maurice Genevoix and participated in major Parisian art salons. His career was recognised through several distinctions, including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
FRAME AND SHIPPING
This artwork is sold framed and ready to hang.
The artwork is professionally packed to ensure maximum protection during transit. All shipments are fully insured and include tracking.
KEYWORDS
Jacques Dollé, French modernist art, mid-century French art, abstract forest, woodland composition, tapestry design, tapestry cartoon, gouache on paper, original gouache, French tapestry, Aubusson tapestry, Mobilier national, post-war French art, geometric abstraction, modernist composition, decorative art, French decorative arts, 1960s art, blue abstract art, turquoise abstract art...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Gouache Paintings
