Felix Labisse

Key facts

Lived

1905–1982^[1]

Works held in

5 museums

Wikipedia

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• What is Felix Labisse's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to identify one single work as Felix Labisse's most famous. He produced paintings, illustrations, and theatre designs from the 1920s until his death in 1982^[1], developing a recognisable personal style that mixed surrealism with eroticism. Labisse is known for his depictions of female figures, often in dreamlike or fantastical settings. He explored themes of metamorphosis, desire, and the subconscious. His paintings often feature recurring motifs, such as sphinxes, cats, and hybrid creatures, contributing to his unique visual vocabulary. He also produced stage designs and costumes for theatre and ballet. He illustrated books, including editions of poetry and erotica. He was associated with Surrealism, exhibiting with the group and exploring similar themes in his art. He developed a distinctive style characterised by fluid lines, bold colours, and a sense of theatricality.
• What should I know about Felix Labisse's prints?+

  Felix Labisse (1905^[1]-1982^[1]) was a French painter, writer, and stage designer associated with Surrealism and magic realism. While he is best known for his paintings, he also produced prints, often lithographs and etchings. Labisse's prints share thematic and stylistic elements with his paintings. Recurring motifs include female figures, often with ambiguous or androgynous qualities; cats; dreamlike interiors; and theatrical settings. His colour palettes tend towards muted tones, with occasional flashes of brighter colour to create dramatic effects. His printmaking techniques varied, with some works displaying fine, precise linework and others a more painterly, expressive approach. He often combined different printmaking methods to achieve particular textures and effects. Collectors should note that the value and availability of Labisse's prints can vary depending on the size of the edition, the condition of the print, and its provenance. Examples can be found in museum collections and at auction.
• What style or movement did Felix Labisse belong to?+

  Felix Labisse (1905^[1]-1982^[1]) is usually associated with Surrealism, though he maintained an independent path. André Breton included Labisse in his 1965^[1] book, *Surrealism and Painting*, placing him within the movement. However, Labisse's style diverged in significant ways. He explored themes of metamorphosis, eroticism, and the subconscious, often populating his canvases with dreamlike figures and unsettling juxtapositions. His work has a theatrical quality, perhaps influenced by his early involvement with stage design. Labisse developed a personal iconography featuring recurring motifs such as sphinxes, mannequins, and hybrid creatures. While Surrealism provided a starting point, Labisse's artistic vision remained uniquely his own, defying easy categorisation. His paintings evoke a sense of mystery and psychological tension, inviting viewers into a strange, symbolic world.
• What techniques or materials did Felix Labisse use?+

  Information on the specific materials and techniques used by Felix Labisse is scarce in the provided texts. However, the passages do offer some broader context on painting techniques and materials that may have been used by artists of his time. One passage discusses the importance of underpainting, the use of specific colours like blanc d'argent, Venetian red, and coeruleum blue, and the creation of a lean medium using poppy oil, walnut oil, and rectified turpentine. It also mentions the use of brushes called "paletines" for covering and modelling. Another passage discusses the use of materials like flour sacks, cold glue, house paint (watercolor), inks, acrylic, gouache, and palm oil by artists in the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to limited resources. These passages offer a glimpse into the range of materials and techniques that may have been available to or employed by Labisse, though without specific details about his individual practice.
• What was Felix Labisse known for?+

  Felix Labisse (1905^[1]-1982^[1]) was a French painter, writer, and stage designer, associated with Surrealism and known for his dreamlike imagery. Although he never officially joined the Surrealist group, his work shares many characteristics with the movement. These include the exploration of the unconscious, the use of bizarre and irrational juxtapositions, and the creation of enigmatic, symbolic figures. He developed a personal style that blended Surrealist ideas with his own unique vision. Labisse's paintings often feature hybrid creatures, mysterious women, and unsettling scenes, all rendered with precise detail. His colour palettes could range from muted and atmospheric to bold and theatrical. He was interested in the themes of metamorphosis, desire, and the hidden aspects of the human psyche. Beyond painting, Labisse designed sets and costumes for theatre and ballet productions, including works by Shakespeare and contemporary playwrights. He also wrote poetry and essays, further exploring the themes present in his visual art.
• When did Felix Labisse live and work?+

  Félix Labisse was born in Douai, France, on 9 March 1905^[1]. He spent much of his life in France, and he died in Paris on 12 January 1982^[1]. Labisse's career began in the early 20th century. By the 1930s, he had become associated with the Surrealist movement, although he maintained his individual artistic approach. He developed friendships with Surrealist artists and writers, including André Breton, who admired Labisse's ability to blend organic forms and capture colour and light. During his career, Labisse lived and worked in various locations, including Paris and Bougival, near Paris. He exhibited widely, including participation in the Salon de Mai in Paris. He also worked with lithography at Ateliers Clot, Bramsen and Georges, Paris.
• Where can I see Felix Labisse's work?+

  To view works by Felix Labisse, consider visiting museums that feature Art Deco or Modern art. These include institutions in France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Canada, and the United States. In France, you might find his pieces at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, or the Musée d’Art et d’Industrie in Roubaix. The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy is another option. Other European museums include the Brangwyn Museum in Bruges, Belgium; the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Portugal; and the Museu d’Art Modern in Barcelona, Spain. In North America, collections can be viewed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Minneapolis Institute of Arts; the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University.
• Who did Felix Labisse influence?+

  Although Félix Labisse is not mentioned in connection with specific artists, his milieu can be mapped through those who influenced him. As a member of the later generation of the Fauves, Labisse would have been part of a movement that included Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck. The Fauves built on the work of Paul Gauguin, Émile Bernard, and Paul Sérusier. The critic Louis Vauxcelles coined the term 'fauve' (wild beast) at the Salon d'Automne of 1905^[1], in the same way the word 'impressionist' had been used earlier. Matisse and Albert Marquet had been students together, first at the École des Arts Décoratifs, then at the École des Beaux-Arts. After leaving the École, Matisse met Derain, who was living near Vlaminck, and the two shared a studio. The impact of the Van Gogh exhibition of 1891 cemented their coherence as a group.
• Who influenced Felix Labisse?+

  Félix Labisse (born 1905^[1]) was acquainted with James Ensor, who painted masked figures and carnival processions. Labisse also knew Michel de Ghelderode, a poet known for his mysterious style. These connections influenced Labisse's artistic development. Labisse aimed to conjure images inspired by old books of magic spells, chance encounters, and the unusual aspects of everyday life. His art incorporated succubi and incubi, spirits considered heretical during the Middle Ages. However, a seventeenth-century theologian, Systran d’Amino, regarded them as reasonable creatures, both corporeal and platonic, living among humans, being born, and dying like humans; Labisse shared this view. In 1930^[1], he contributed to the production of films such as *Le chien andalou*, *L'âge d'or*, *Les mystères des beaux yeux*, and *La mort de verre*. While maintaining his independence, Labisse associated with Surrealist figures like Philippe Soupault, but also with Robert Desnos, Paul Éluard, and Jacques Prévert. His work displays a dreamlike atmosphere and a baroque spirit.
• Who was Felix Labisse?+

  Felix Labisse (1905^[1]-1982^[1]) was a French artist associated with Surrealism. Born in Douai, he developed friendships with James Ensor, known for his depictions of masks and carnival processions, and Michel de Ghelderode, a poet. Labisse sought to create images inspired by old books of magic spells, chance encounters, and the oddities of everyday life. His art incorporated succubi and incubi, spirits considered heretical in the Middle Ages, though a seventeenth-century theologian viewed them as reasonable beings, corporeal and spiritual, living among humans. Labisse's imagery often featured creatures. In 1930^[1], he contributed to the production of two films: *Le chien andalou* and *La Mort de verre*. While maintaining his independence, Labisse associated with Surrealist figures, including Philippe Soupault, Robert Desnos, Paul Eluard, and Jacques Prévert. His work is characterised by a dreamlike quality and a baroque spirit.
• Why are Felix Labisse's works important today?+

  Felix Labisse (1905^[1]-1982^[1]) was a French painter associated with Surrealism, though he maintained his independence from the group. His paintings often feature dreamlike imagery, female figures, and theatrical settings. The importance of Labisse's works today lies in their unique approach to the figure and the exploration of psychological themes. While some critics argue that modern art owes its fame more to social conflict than artistic merit, Labisse's art offers a different perspective. His paintings invite viewers to engage with the subconscious and explore the boundaries between reality and imagination. Labisse's focus on personal mythology and symbolism sets him apart. His works provide a counterpoint to art that is overly focused on theory or historical context. Instead, Labisse prioritises the creation of a pictorial fact, as opposed to simply reconstituting an anecdote. This emphasis on the artwork's independent value, regardless of external factors, remains relevant in contemporary art.
• How did Felix Labisse die?+

  Félix Labisse died on 27 January 1982^[1].