Lot Essay
Jean Hélion's abstract paintings of the early 1930s, such as Premières courbes offered here, reflect the influence of Mondrian
and de Stijl. Within a few years, however, he was utilizing rounded forms to create the illusion of space.
Mondrian, whom I always admired but could not agree
with, based his expression on a reduction of means and
the elimination of particularized representation. He
used to say to me 'We are not of the same tradition--
you are a Naturalist.' Even as early as 1935 he 'accused'
me of belonging to the French naturalist tradition.
(Jean Hélion, in "Eleven Europeans in America"
The Museum of Modern Art Bulletin, New York, 1946,
vol. XIII, nos. 4-5, p. 29)
Hélion first came to America in 1938 to teach at László Moholy-
Nagy's New Bauhaus in Chicago. The Bauhaus disbanded before the term
began, however, and Hélion lived in Virginia, returning to France when he was called up for military service in January, 1940. He was taken prisoner by the Germans during the Battle of France, and after being interned for twenty-two months, he escaped and made his way to the United States in October, 1942.
Hélion's paintings in America during the mid 1940s became increasingly naturalistic, using subject matter drawn from daily life, while retaining the flattened forms and clear design of his early abstractions.
and de Stijl. Within a few years, however, he was utilizing rounded forms to create the illusion of space.
Mondrian, whom I always admired but could not agree
with, based his expression on a reduction of means and
the elimination of particularized representation. He
used to say to me 'We are not of the same tradition--
you are a Naturalist.' Even as early as 1935 he 'accused'
me of belonging to the French naturalist tradition.
(Jean Hélion, in "Eleven Europeans in America"
The Museum of Modern Art Bulletin, New York, 1946,
vol. XIII, nos. 4-5, p. 29)
Hélion first came to America in 1938 to teach at László Moholy-
Nagy's New Bauhaus in Chicago. The Bauhaus disbanded before the term
began, however, and Hélion lived in Virginia, returning to France when he was called up for military service in January, 1940. He was taken prisoner by the Germans during the Battle of France, and after being interned for twenty-two months, he escaped and made his way to the United States in October, 1942.
Hélion's paintings in America during the mid 1940s became increasingly naturalistic, using subject matter drawn from daily life, while retaining the flattened forms and clear design of his early abstractions.