"THE MONKFISH MEDALLION" -Lithograph -1970's -Signed & Numbered -22/150 -Roger Bezombes
THE MONKFISH MEDALLION is a striking and captivating lithograph from the wonderfully creative mind of Roger Bezombes, crafted during the vivid and vibrant era of the 1970s. This impressive piece, uniquely signed and numbered 22/150, boasts generous dimensions of 22x28 inches and has quite comfortably enjoyed a luxurious 50-year slumber tucked away in the storage of a retired NYC art gallery. Featuring three dynamic and eye-catching squares of bold blue and red that pop vividly against a pristine white background, the large fish prominently featured in the bottom square truly plays the star of the show. It's festooned with whimsical charms and an array of faces and shapes that delightfully dance across its body. Meanwhile, the abstract upper squares are adorned with swirling forms in soothing shades of calming blues and greens, effectively drawing the viewer into a mesmerizing world of imaginative interpretations. Adding an extra layer of intrigue and fascination, embossed symbols of coins and medals elegantly flow down the center, beautifully merging Bezombes’ rich history with an alluring touch of the mysterious unknown. Born in the artistic haven of Paris in 1913, Bezombes’ remarkable journey as an artist is steeped in determination, deep inspiration drawn from the masters, and a hint of the avant-garde, making this unusual lithograph not just a piece of art, but rather a captivating story packed with echoes of its illustrious creator’s life and experiences.
When he reached the pivotal age, he took a leap into the swirling world of art by enrolling in the revered Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Under the watchful eyes of masters Paul Boudouin and René Barotte, he honed his craft, dedicating countless hours to replicating the masterpieces housed in the Louvre. It was in this hallowed space that he found both inspiration and technique, but it was the friendship with fellow artist Maurice Denis that truly opened his creative horizons. Through Denis, he was introduced to the revolutionary works of Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Matisse—each an indelible influence on Bezombes' artistic journey. These encounters set the stage for a career that would blend traditional reverence with bold expression, making him a noteworthy figure in the evolution of modern art.
THE MONKFISH MEDALLION is a striking and captivating lithograph from the wonderfully creative mind of Roger Bezombes, crafted during the vivid and vibrant era of the 1970s. This impressive piece, uniquely signed and numbered 22/150, boasts generous dimensions of 22x28 inches and has quite comfortably enjoyed a luxurious 50-year slumber tucked away in the storage of a retired NYC art gallery. Featuring three dynamic and eye-catching squares of bold blue and red that pop vividly against a pristine white background, the large fish prominently featured in the bottom square truly plays the star of the show. It's festooned with whimsical charms and an array of faces and shapes that delightfully dance across its body. Meanwhile, the abstract upper squares are adorned with swirling forms in soothing shades of calming blues and greens, effectively drawing the viewer into a mesmerizing world of imaginative interpretations. Adding an extra layer of intrigue and fascination, embossed symbols of coins and medals elegantly flow down the center, beautifully merging Bezombes’ rich history with an alluring touch of the mysterious unknown. Born in the artistic haven of Paris in 1913, Bezombes’ remarkable journey as an artist is steeped in determination, deep inspiration drawn from the masters, and a hint of the avant-garde, making this unusual lithograph not just a piece of art, but rather a captivating story packed with echoes of its illustrious creator’s life and experiences.
When he reached the pivotal age, he took a leap into the swirling world of art by enrolling in the revered Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Under the watchful eyes of masters Paul Boudouin and René Barotte, he honed his craft, dedicating countless hours to replicating the masterpieces housed in the Louvre. It was in this hallowed space that he found both inspiration and technique, but it was the friendship with fellow artist Maurice Denis that truly opened his creative horizons. Through Denis, he was introduced to the revolutionary works of Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Matisse—each an indelible influence on Bezombes' artistic journey. These encounters set the stage for a career that would blend traditional reverence with bold expression, making him a noteworthy figure in the evolution of modern art.
THE MONKFISH MEDALLION is a striking and captivating lithograph from the wonderfully creative mind of Roger Bezombes, crafted during the vivid and vibrant era of the 1970s. This impressive piece, uniquely signed and numbered 22/150, boasts generous dimensions of 22x28 inches and has quite comfortably enjoyed a luxurious 50-year slumber tucked away in the storage of a retired NYC art gallery. Featuring three dynamic and eye-catching squares of bold blue and red that pop vividly against a pristine white background, the large fish prominently featured in the bottom square truly plays the star of the show. It's festooned with whimsical charms and an array of faces and shapes that delightfully dance across its body. Meanwhile, the abstract upper squares are adorned with swirling forms in soothing shades of calming blues and greens, effectively drawing the viewer into a mesmerizing world of imaginative interpretations. Adding an extra layer of intrigue and fascination, embossed symbols of coins and medals elegantly flow down the center, beautifully merging Bezombes’ rich history with an alluring touch of the mysterious unknown. Born in the artistic haven of Paris in 1913, Bezombes’ remarkable journey as an artist is steeped in determination, deep inspiration drawn from the masters, and a hint of the avant-garde, making this unusual lithograph not just a piece of art, but rather a captivating story packed with echoes of its illustrious creator’s life and experiences.
When he reached the pivotal age, he took a leap into the swirling world of art by enrolling in the revered Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Under the watchful eyes of masters Paul Boudouin and René Barotte, he honed his craft, dedicating countless hours to replicating the masterpieces housed in the Louvre. It was in this hallowed space that he found both inspiration and technique, but it was the friendship with fellow artist Maurice Denis that truly opened his creative horizons. Through Denis, he was introduced to the revolutionary works of Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Matisse—each an indelible influence on Bezombes' artistic journey. These encounters set the stage for a career that would blend traditional reverence with bold expression, making him a noteworthy figure in the evolution of modern art.
Solo Exhibitions:
1938: Galerie Charpentier, Paris
1950, '53, '55, '57: Galerie Andre Weil, Paris
1953: "Recent Paintings by Roger Bezombes, Wildenstein Gallery, London
1954: Institut Francais, Cologne
1956: Galerie Matarasso, Nice
1957: Horn Gallery, Luxembourg; Guilde de la Gravure, Paris
1958: Denys-Puech Museum, Rodez
1962: Musee de l'Athenee, Geneva; "Roger Bezombes - Selected Works," Chateau Grimaldi, Cagnes-aur-Mer
1966: Galerie des Ponchettes, Nice
1967: Galerie Martel, Montreal
1968: Romanet-Vercel Gallery, New York; "Roger Bezombes: Works of Provence," Reattu Museum, Arles; Le Corbusier Center, Firminy
1969: Galerie Philippe Ducastel, Avignon; Musee des beaux-arts d'Orleans
1970: "Roger Bezombes: Murals, Masks, Medals," Palais de l'Isle, Annecy; Musee des beaux-arts de Reims
1971: Musee des beaux-arts de Nimes; Musee des beaux-arts de Besancon
1972: Musee de la Monnaie, Paris; Galerie Presence de l'art, Cannes
1975: Musee du Bastion Saint-Andre, Antibes; Musee des Ursulines de Macon
1979: Abbaye des Prémontrés de Pont-à-Mousson
1981: "Roger Bezombes - Vie du monde, Sixteen Posters for Air France," Center Georges-Pompidou, Paris
1984: "Roger Bezombes: Variations Around a Poster," Centre Culturel du Marais, Paris
1987: "Roger Bezombes - retrospective," Tokyo, Osaka
1993: "Chaussures Insolites: Roger Bezombes," Musée international de la chaussure
2008: "Roger Bezombes retrospective," Reattu Museum, Arles
2015/'16: "Roger Bezombes: Life Around the World," FIAF Gallery, New York
Group Exhibitions:
1937: Salon d'automne, Salon des independants, and Salon des Tuileries, Paris
1943: "Contemporary French Artists," Madrid, Spain
1949: "Twenty Years of Scared Art," Rio de Janiero, Brazil; Salon de l'Imagery, paris; Salon des artistes decorateurs, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
1950: "The French Tapestry," Tunis, Copenhagen
1951: "Salon of painters, Witnesses of their time," Palais Galliera, Paris; 1st Sao Paolo Biennial
1951-1952: "Twenty-eight young painters, twenty-eight young women," Galerie Drouant-David, Paris
1956-1965: Salon Comparaisons, Paris
1958: Pavilion francais de l'Exposition Universelle, Brussels
1961: Salon Grands et Jeunes d'aujourd'hui, Hotel Martinez, Cannes
1963: "Exhibition Oganized on the Ocassion of the Estates Gerneral on Disarmament," Cercle Volney
1967: Montreal World's Fair; International Exhibition of the Monnaie, Musee de la Monnaie, Paris
1974: Festival of the Arts, Adelaide, Australia; 5th Biennale des arts graphiques, Warsaw
1975: "The Bestiary of Coins, Seals, and Medals,' Musee de la Monnaie, Paris; Tapestry Miennale, Dublin
1981: "Humor and the Medal," Musee de la Monnaie
1987-1988: "Paris - Prague," Hotel de la Monnaie, Paris and the National Gallery, Prague
2017: "The Orient Dreamed by the West," Marrakech Art and Culture Museum
