431 - François ARNAL (1924–2012)

François ARNAL (1924–2012) Abstract Composition Mixed media on canvas Signed lower right With an annotation, possibly: “For Oliva with great pleasure because I like her” and countersigned on the back 70 x 92 cm (Canvas not mounted on a stretcher) PROVENANCE Acquired directly from the artist in August 2012. The buyer is responsible for the resale royalty if the hammer price is equal to or greater than €750. DESCRIPTION François Arnal (1924–2012) was a multifaceted French artist—a painter, sculptor, and designer—and a leading figure of his generation. Born in La Valette-du-Var, he participated after the war in the lyrical abstraction and Informel movements, rubbing shoulders with artists such as Pierre Dmitrienko and Serge Rezvani. He was particularly innovative in the 1960s with his “Bombardements” series, in which he traced the outlines of objects with spray paint, and in 1968 he founded Atelier A to bridge the gap between art and design. His work, rich in color, texture, and formal experimentation, explores sculpture, functional objects, drawing, and writing alike, always in pursuit of renewal. Arnal is recognized for his artistic freedom, his rejection of strict categories, and his significant contribution to abstract art, Informel, object design, and contemporary art.