Victor Brauner

Alexandre Iolas, Paris (acquis directement de l'artiste)
Galleria La Medusa, Rome
Vente : Me Anaf, Paris, 13 juin 1990, lot 68
Collection particulière
Vente : Christie's, Londres, 29 juin 2000, lot 359
Acquis lors de cette vente par le propriétaire actuel

The canvas is not lined. There are some thin craquelures towards the right eye of the main figure and one on of the left leg of the upper animal. There is no evidence of retouching under UV light. This work is in very good condition.
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signed 'Victor Brauner', dated 'II.1961' (lower right) and titled 'Animaux claniques hominisés' (lower left), oil on canvas. Painted in 1961.

"Moi je te rappelle que tous ces animaux sont en toi" déclare Brauner en 1962. Dans Animaux claniques hominisés, un mammifère, un poisson et un oiseau composent un visage ; les trois mondes de la création se rejoignant ainsi pour incarner la nature humaine. Empreinte de symbolisme et d'une très forte dimension métaphysique et poétique, l'imagerie animale s'inscrit chez Brauner dans une volonté de dépassement des traditions européennes.

 

Dans tout son œuvre, l'esthétique des arts primitifs, de l'art byzantin, des légendes et de l'art populaire est omniprésente et dépasse la simple inspiration formelle. Elle relève bien plus d'une libre interprétation de l'art universel pour l'artiste qui s'interroge sur la nature duale de chaque individu. Brauner célèbre ici l'interpénétration des règnes animaux et des "clans", renvoyant le spectateur à la nature ambigüe de chaque individu. Le "moi" ne peut finalement se définir que comme un point de rencontre entre une infinité d'influences animales et culturelles. Issu de la diaspora roumaine et dépassant systématiquement toute appartenance communautaire - il rompt avec les surréalistes en 1948 - Brauner se voit comme la fusion de plusieurs mondes et revendique l'universalité de chaque individualité.

 

"May I remind you that all the animals are within you" declared Brauner in 1962.  In Animaux claniques hominisés, a mammal, a fish and a bird create a face : the three worlds of creation combine to represent human nature.  A legacy of symbolism that adds a strong metaphysical and poetic dimension, animal imagery in Brauner's works stems from a desire to transcend European traditions.

The aesthetics of tribal arts, Byzantine art, legends and folklore are omnipresent throughout his oeuvre and go beyond mere formal inspiration.  For an artist who was investigating the dual nature of every individual, this represents much more than a free interpretation of universal art. Brauner celebrates here the interpenetration of animal kingdoms and "clans", drawing the spectators attention to the ambiguous nature of every individual.  The "self" can only be defined as a meeting point between an infinite number of animal and cultural influences. Descended from Romanian diaspora and systematically refusing any community ties – breaking with the Surrealists in 1948 – Brauner saw himself as a fusion of several worlds and emphasised the universality of each individual.