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dé-finition/méthode #77: changement / invariance 1 by Claude Rutault
dé-finition/méthode #107: peinture-puzzle généralisée by Claude Rutault
dé-finition/méthode #178: rien à lire by Claude Rutault
dé-finition/méthode #4: peint / repeint (‘la france défigurée’ 1969) / non peint by Claude Rutault

Where to See Claude Rutault

2 museums worldwide

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About Claude Rutault

French · 1941–2022

French[1] conceptual painter whose Definition/Method series, begun in 1973[1], instructs collectors to repaint canvases to match their walls.

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Portrait of Claude Rutault
Museums2
Countries2
Most worksMusée National d'Art Moderne, Paris · 1 works
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Where to see Claude Rutault

Ranked by works you can see in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who was Claude Rutault?
    Claude Rutault was born in Trois-Moutiers in 1941[1] and began his career with Definition/Method No. 1, a grey canvas hung on a grey wall in his Paris apartment. He is known for his radical approach to painting and challenging traditional artistic norms.
  • What is Claude Rutault known for?
    Claude Rutault is known for his 'Definitions/Methods', which are sets of instructions for creating art rather than fixed objects. His most famous instruction is to paint a canvas the same colour as the wall it hangs on, with the 'undertaker' (collector or institution) responsible for realising the work.
  • What was Claude Rutault's art style?
    Claude Rutault's art style emerged from Figuration Critique, a French[1] movement focused on self-critical painting. His work often involves a transfer of authorial control to the collector or institution, challenging conventional notions of artistic signature and meaning.

Sources

Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of Claude Rutault's works across the following collections.

  1. [1] wikipedia Wikipedia: Claude Rutault Used for: biography.
  2. [2] book Hal Foster, Brutal Aesthetics _ Dubuffet, Bataille, Jorn, Paolozzi, Oldenburg Used for: stylistic analysis.
  3. [3] book guggenheim-amsterdamparisdu00solo Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  4. [4] book guggenheim-invested00blis Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  5. [5] book guggenheim-masterp00solo Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-17. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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