Credited with helping revive the design and production of tapestries during the 20th century, French artist Jean Lurçat rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest painters in the world while weaving his own artistic narrative into the fabric of history.
Lurçat met artists Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir in Paris in his early twenties — when the Bruyères native found himself fully immersed in the French art world. He had studied at Académie Colarossi and worked in the studio of sculptor Victor Prouvé, and later made paintings inspired by Fauvism. Lurçat first exhibited his tapestries in 1917.
Lurçat’s inaugural textiles were constructed with weaver Marthe Hennebert and were marked by Cubism and avant-garde–inspired art styles before he embarked on extensive travels that would enrich his work. Lurçat’s travels exposed him to other movements and styles that ranged from German Expressionism to Spanish and African influences that inspired his later works.
Lurçat’s tapestries found a regular home in 1925 at Jeanne Bucher’s gallery, which featured the work of other artists including Pablo Picasso, Hans Arp, Jacques Lipchitz, Georges Braque and Max Ernst. Between 1930 and 1936, Lurçat had solo exhibitions at the Flechtheim Gallery in Berlin and the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York. In 1939 — when the popularity of tapestries had long been on the decline — Lurçat opened a factory with other artists in Aubusson, the home of a centuries-old tapestry production industry, in order to create modernist tapestries.
Over the course of his life, Lurçat designed more than 1,000 tapestries. One of his most notable, Apocalypse Tapestry (1948), is on display in the Church of Notre-Dame de Toute-Grâce and complements the original which dates back to the 14th century. His other highly acclaimed works include Song of the World (1957–64) and Four Seasons (1940).
While Lurçat’s best known works are his tapestries, he also produced engravings, book illustrations and ceramics. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City holds some of these book illustrations as well as a few other works in its permanent collection. Other works by Lurçat are held in the collections of the Detroit Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne, the Museum of Chicago, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Gallery in Washington DC.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Jean Lurçat wall decorations, decorative objects and ceramics.
Vintage French Modernist Jean Lurcat Watercolor Painting Mod Blue and Orange Owl
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Surfside, FL
Jean Lurcat,New York, France, 1892-1966 Depicts a highly stylized, expressionist owl bird figure hidden in leaves surrounded by bright, vibrant, vivid blue, yellow, and orange colors...
Watercolor, Lithograph
La Tapisserie Française Moderne by Jean Lurçat - 1947
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Roma, IT
La Tapisserie Française Moderne is the title of the solo exhibition of Jean Lurçat, hold at the Kunsthalle Bern, from June 25th to the first July ...
Paper, Ink
$1,000
H 13.75 in W 11 in
Pink Cosmos Monotype Print, Abstract Art, 2023, Hand-Pulled by the Artist
By a.muse
Located in New york, NY
In the artist's abstract print series, Cosmos, 2023 by a.muse represents an imaginary cosmos - the universe as a place of longing, dreams, wonder, and ethereal beauty. A 13.75" x 11"...
Ink, Rag Paper, Monotype, Gouache
$1,424
H 10 in W 7.5 in D 1.5 in
Rafael Mckenzie Soares, Wildlife artist, Horse or Equine portrait
Located in Harkstead, GB
A really charming and beautifully executed study of a horse by this very talented artist. A most attractive picture of this noble creature in ready to hang condition Rafael Mckenzi...
Paper, Watercolor
$1,085
H 7.75 in W 7 in D 1.5 in
Rafael Mckenzie Soares, Wildlife artist, Stag Beetle
Located in Harkstead, GB
A really striking and skillfully executed study of a stag beetle by this very talented artist. The intricate composition and the way the artist has skillfully aged the paper recalls...
Watercolor, Paper
The French Rooster
By Raymond Debieve
Located in London, GB
'The French Rooster', gouache on art paper, by Raymond Debiève (circa 1960s). A Mid-Century modern depiction of the French coq, or rooster. The origin o...
Paper, Gouache
$495
H 24 in W 18 in D 0.05 in
Untitled AP-124 — Mixed Media Work on Paper by Murray Duncan
By Murray Duncan
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled AP-124 is an expressive mixed-media work on paper by Toronto artist Murray Duncan, measuring 18 x 24 inches. In this composition, Duncan builds a dynamic interplay of bold b...
Paint, Paper, Ink, Pencil
'Tropical Fish', Psychedelic Piscatorial, Aquatic
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Murray' and painted circa 1990. A large and vibrant study of three colorful fishes shown stacked vertically.
Wax Crayon, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Laid Paper
$487Sale Price|25% Off
H 10 in W 10 in D 2 in
Homage To Chanel, 5"x5" Artwork, 10"x10" Frame, Black White Red, Christmas Gift
By Andrea Stajan-Ferkul
Located in Mississauga, Ontario
HOMAGE TO CHANEL - This original artwork on paper combines layered brushstrokes with textile collage elements. Surrounded by heavy texture, the focal point is a detailed Chanel logo ...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Textile, Ink, Archival Paper
$9,377Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.87 in W 28.75 in
Bison in Snow, Animal Picture, American School, John Aldrich Ruthven, signed
By John Ruthven
Located in Greven, DE
John Aldrich Ruthven American Painter Bison in a Snow Blizzard Watercolor and Gouache on Paper signed lower left
Watercolor, Gouache
$11,000
H 15.5 in W 20 in D 2 in
Jacques Lipchitz; The Rape Of Europa Sculpture Painting 1938
By Jacques Lipchitz
Located in Dallas, TX
Jacques Lipchitz Watercolor with ink and wash sculptural Painting. this painting represents Lipchitz’s most iconic Bronze and stone sculpture “The Rape of Europa” which was exhibited...
India Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$1,113
H 7.49 in W 11.82 in
Two Mandarin Ducks, Circle of Sunqua, Gouache on Pith Paper, Qing Dynasty
By Sunqua
Located in Stockholm, SE
Circle of Sunqua (active 1830-1870) Two Mandarin Ducks pith paper (rice paper) gouache c.1830-1870 China Also close to: Chincqua, Lam Qua, Youqua. Compare ...
Gouache, Rice Paper
$1,194Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.75 in W 16.5 in
French Neo-Impressionist Modernist Dog in a Tent Mid 20th Century Painting
By Louis Bellon
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Neo Impressionist Dog in a Tent by Louis Bellon (French 1908-1998) signed lower left gouache painting on paper, unframed measurements: 11.75 x 16.5 inches provenance: private collection of the artists work, Provence, France Condition report: very good, colour strong, very shallow crease to lower right corner of sheet Interesting Neo-Impressionist 1950's French painting of a rather lively dog at the entrance to brightly coloured canvas tents...
Gouache
$996
H 12.21 in W 15.95 in D 0.04 in
Study of a Butterfly, Watercolour on Silk Applied to Handmade Paper.
By La Roche Laffitte
Located in Cotignac, FR
One from a set of four watercolours of butterflies on silk, applied to handmade paper, with hand cut edges, by French artist La Roche Laffitte. (The other 3 items are available separately) A beautifully observed and detailed study of a butterfly painted...
Silk, Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Carbon Pencil, Gouache
Sold
H 30 in W 22.5 in
Vintage French Modernist Jean Lurcat Watercolor Painting Mod Blue and Orange Owl
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Surfside, FL
Jean Lurcat,New York, France, 1892-1966 Depicts a highly stylized, expressionist owl bird figure hidden in leaves surrounded by bright, vibrant, vivid blue, yellow, and orange colors...
Watercolor, Lithograph