Maurice Estève

Maurice Estève, one of the most influential artists of the first generation of post-World War II non-figurative painters, was born in 1904 in Culan, in the Cher department of France. Raised in the countryside by his peasant grandparents, his childhood memories nourished his work throughout his career.

At the age of nine, Estève joined his parents in Paris, where he discovered the Louvre on his own. This was a decisive turning point: the works of Corot, Delacroix, Chardin, and Courbet fascinated him, particularly Paolo Uccello's "The Battle of San Romano," a reproduction of which still adorns his studio today.

After World War I, he returned to Paris. His father, opposed to his artistic vocation, placed him as an apprentice in a furniture factory. Despite his father's objections, Estève began to paint with remarkable ease.

In 1923, he spent a year in Barcelona as a fabric designer, becoming familiar with Catalan art. Back in France, despite material difficulties, he dedicated himself to his passion. He attended free academies in Montparnasse but was mainly self-taught, studying the works of Poussin, Fouquet, and Cézanne, whom he considered a constant source of inspiration.

Over the years, Estève explored various artistic influences, moving from naturalism to fauvist, pointillist, and even surrealist temptations. In 1929, influenced by Fernand Léger, he abandoned the illusionism of traditional painting for a more plastic and inventive path. He then developed the theme of the Couple, using staggered planes and arabesques on flat surfaces animated with bright colors.

Estève refused to use sketches, preferring to paint directly on the canvas without prior drawing. "Color organizes itself at the same time as shapes," he said. This direct and intuitive method became an essential characteristic of his work. He debuted at the Surindépendants, where he exhibited until 1938.

His first solo exhibition took place in 1930 at the Yvangot Gallery, attracting the attention of cubism historian Maurice Raynal. In 1933, he began painting color-shapes dominated by green, orchestrated by plays of shadow and light. The late 1930s saw the introduction of spiral lines and dominant blues and reds in his work, marking a significant stylistic evolution.

In 1937, Robert Delaunay sought his help for decorating the aviation and railway pavilions for the Paris World Expo. This period marked a remarkable mastery of composition, where figures and objects responded harmoniously to each other.

Just before World War II, Estève set up his studio in Montmartre and focused on domestic subjects. His painting "Homage to Cézanne" (1942) is a true hymn to color and participated in various group exhibitions.

In 1942, he signed an exclusivity contract with the Louis Carré Gallery, allowing him to devote himself fully to painting. This period was marked by the influence of Romanesque paintings and Bonnard, with a return to landscapes, painted from memory or imagination.

In the 1950s, Estève reintegrated the human figure with a series of paintings celebrating artisanal trades, such as "The Painter," "The Sculptor," and "The Weaver." This series emphasized the deep harmony between the artisan and his tool, in a composition vibrant with bright colors.

Estève continued to explore new forms of artistic expression, notably watercolor, drawing, and collage. His watercolors, presented in various exhibitions, showed a similar mutation to that of his painting, with transparent colors and a fluid composition.

Over the years, Estève's work gained in grandeur and complexity. The rigor of the composition combined with an increasing suppleness of colors, creating luminous and dynamic works. His solo and group exhibitions in France and abroad, notably in Basel, Düsseldorf, Copenhagen, and Oslo, testified to his lasting influence in the art world.

Maurice Estève passed away in 2001, leaving behind a rich and diverse artistic legacy, celebrated in numerous retrospectives and exhibitions around the world. His ability to merge form and color in perfect harmony continues to inspire and fascinate art lovers.