Véronique FILOZOF Swiss, 1904-1977
Alsatian wedding, 1970s
India ink on paper
49 x 65 cm
Véronique FILOZOF (1904-1977) was a Basel-born, French painter, illustrator, and graphic artist whose practice merged folk traditions with modernist sensibilities. Born in Basel, Switzerland, she relocated to France in 1923...
Véronique FILOZOF (1904-1977) was a Basel-born, French painter, illustrator, and graphic artist whose practice merged folk traditions with modernist sensibilities. Born in Basel, Switzerland, she relocated to France in 1923 and played a significant role in the French Resistance during World War II. After the war, she developed a distinctive visual language through intricate India ink drawings, vibrant gouache paintings, and collaborative tapestry projects with the Aubusson workshop.
Later, Filozof developed extended series of India ink drawings, for which she is best known. Executed in her signature style, these drawings depict castles, churches and fortresses as faded symbols of authority in a post-war France dominated by existentialism and secular humanism. In June 1956, she took part in the exhibition 'Peinture d’aujourd’hui' where she confirmed her talent alongside Picasso, Max Ernst, Bernard Buffet, Jean Cocteau and Miró. In 1959, the book 'Le Palais Royal told by Cocteau, seen by Véronique Filozof' was published.
A politically committed woman, Véronique Filozof was involved in all the fights for justice, equality, the defense of freedom and the environment. In ‘68 Filozof believed that her place was in the street, joining the protests with students and workers. In her works, she depicted the events of May ‘68 in Paris, as well as the war in Algeria and Vietnam. Her illustrated book MAI 68 was published in 1969 with no other text than that written on the walls, posters and banners of her drawings. Supported by artists of the calibre of Jean Dubuffet, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Jean Cocteau, Filozof developed a strong career in Paris.
Her work is held in public collections around the world, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Le Musée International d’Art Naïf, Nice, France; and The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA.
Later, Filozof developed extended series of India ink drawings, for which she is best known. Executed in her signature style, these drawings depict castles, churches and fortresses as faded symbols of authority in a post-war France dominated by existentialism and secular humanism. In June 1956, she took part in the exhibition 'Peinture d’aujourd’hui' where she confirmed her talent alongside Picasso, Max Ernst, Bernard Buffet, Jean Cocteau and Miró. In 1959, the book 'Le Palais Royal told by Cocteau, seen by Véronique Filozof' was published.
A politically committed woman, Véronique Filozof was involved in all the fights for justice, equality, the defense of freedom and the environment. In ‘68 Filozof believed that her place was in the street, joining the protests with students and workers. In her works, she depicted the events of May ‘68 in Paris, as well as the war in Algeria and Vietnam. Her illustrated book MAI 68 was published in 1969 with no other text than that written on the walls, posters and banners of her drawings. Supported by artists of the calibre of Jean Dubuffet, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Jean Cocteau, Filozof developed a strong career in Paris.
Her work is held in public collections around the world, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Le Musée International d’Art Naïf, Nice, France; and The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA.
92
of 93