BERNARD LIGNON

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Medium and Dimensions

Original lithograph, signed by the artist. The sheet measures approximately 65 × 48 cm.

A Gestural and Organic Composition

At the center of a pristine white space unfolds a constellation of dark, fragmented forms. The whole, made up of incisive strokes and sweeping curves, evokes a mass in expansion, as if torn from the silence of the background. Deep blacks, punctuated with fiery reds and touches of yellow, generate dramatic tension and striking visual density.

The Dramaturgy of Abstraction

The work does not seek representation but rather sensory impact. Gesture becomes language, the line a vector of energy, and emptiness an indispensable counterpoint. Here, Lignon asserts his expressionist lineage: a painting of impulse, of eruption, transcending the motif to reach pure emotional intensity. This lithograph becomes a true visual score, where strength, movement, and interiority converge.

Inspirations and Lineage

In this lithograph, Bernard Lignon seems to draw upon the heritage of gestural expressionism and lyrical abstraction. One perceives the explosive energy of Georges Mathieu, where the speed and spontaneity of the gesture bring dramatic intensity. The dark masses pierced by luminous flashes recall the work of Hans Hartung, with his graphic rigor and dynamic striations that resonate with Lignon’s incisive handling. Through the chromatic density and the blazing reds, the work also enters into dialogue with Nicolas de Staël, who likewise sought to transform pictorial matter into vibrating light. One could even evoke Jackson Pollock, for this same desire to tear painting away from narrative in favor of raw, organic energy. Lignon thus inscribes himself within a constellation of artists who made gesture a universal language, where color and form become carriers of pure emotion.

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Origins and Artistic Identity

Bernard Lignon (1928–2017), French painter and lithographer born in Montpellier, belongs to that generation of artists who bridged figurative tradition and modern expressionism. Passing in 2017, he left behind a body of work defined by gestural energy and a remarkable diversity of subjects.

Training and Emergence on the Parisian Scene

Trained at the Regional School of Fine Arts in Montpellier, he later moved to Paris, then a vibrant cultural capital. There he exhibited alongside figures such as Yankel, Dauchot, and Lelong. His career reached a turning point in 1958, when he was honored at the Galerie Pétridès Salon, presented alongside some of the great masters of the 20th century: Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Foujita, and Utrillo. This recognition firmly established him within the artistic landscape of his time.

An Expressionist Universe with Multiple Facets

Lignon asserted himself through an expressionist style that was both energetic and colorful. His iconographic universe embraced urban landscapes — Paris and Venice in particular — street and harbor scenes, as well as vibrant floral still lifes. At the same time, he developed a figurative repertoire featuring clowns, harlequins, and toreadors, incarnations of expressive and dramatic theatricality.

Lithography as a Field of Experimentation

Beyond painting, Lignon explored lithography with the same vigor. His prints, often produced on Arches wove paper, reveal a search for rhythm, contrast, and movement. Some of them ventured into radical abstraction, where gesture prevailed over any figurative reference.

Recognition and Market Presence

The works of Bernard Lignon circulate regularly on the art market. Their value varies according to subject and medium, ranging from modest sales to hammer prices exceeding $7,000, as in the case of "Clown mit Mandoline". His recurrent presence at auction attests to the ongoing interest in his work, both in France and internationally.