Maurice Esteve was a French painter. He was born in Culan, France in 1904. He was primarily self-taught, although he did study at the Académie Colarossi in Paris in the 1920s. While he was in Paris he was influenced a lot by Cubist art, of which Paul Cézanne influenced him the most. He is known for establishing a new artistic language, whereby he displayed form and color with poetic abstractions.
In the late 1920s, Esteve began to move away from realism and his first solo exhibition followed soon after in 1930. Robert Delaunay was another great influence on Esteve’s work, and he worked as an assistant to Delaunay on large-scale decorative panels for the Paris International Exhibition in 1937.
In the 1940s, Esteve’s still-life and landscape compositions became increasingly abstract. His stylized figures were intertwined with blended shapes and bright colors. He blended his love for art history with abstract creations in the most striking manner. The artist also created a number of collages and watercolor paintings.
While he is most well known for his paintings, Esteve did not limit his work to the canvas. He was also known to create stained glass, murals, lithography, and textiles. Esteve was a core member of the core of artists that brought about the breakthrough of the École de Paris in 1945. Unlike his fellow incumbents, he avoided the gregarious groups of artists associated with the avant-garde movement.
Esteves’ work began to take its place in many art museums and collections throughout the world, and he was awarded the Grand Prix National des Arts in 1970. The Esteve Museum was opened in Bourges, France in 1987 and he donated a large collection of his work.
In 1995, Maurice Esteve moved back to his hometown of Culan, where he died at the age of 97 in 2001.
1. Nature Morte au Pichet
‘Nature morte au pichet’ was created in 1942 by Maurice Esteve in Fauvism style.
2. Le Napperon
‘Le Napperon’ was created in 1944 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
3. La Chute De Lucifer
‘La chute de Lucifer’ was created in 1951 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
4. Les Goudes
‘Les Goudes’ was created in 1954 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
5. Jazz
‘Jazz’ was created in 1954 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
6. Andalousie
‘Andalousie’ was created in 1954 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
7. Faverdines
‘Faverdines’ was created in 1955 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
8. Composition
‘Composition’ was created in 1955 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
9. The Cicada
‘The Cicada’ was created in 1956 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.
10. Noirbel
‘Noirbel’ was created in 1957 by Maurice Esteve in Art Informel style.