Jean Marie Calmettes (1918-2007), Composition At La Chaise

Jean Marie Calmettes (1918-2007) Composition à la chaise Paper mounted on canvas signed and dated lower right 1948 Size: 100 x 65 cm Jean-Marie Calmettes was born in 1918 in Wissou, in the Île de France region. He first studied sculpture, then turned to painting and joined the École nationale des beaux-arts from 1937 to 1939. During the Second World War he took classes with Othon Friesz at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. In 1942 he founded the Échelle group in Montparnasse with the artists Jacques Busse, Jean Cortot and Michel Patrix. He exhibited with this group at the Salon des Tuileries in 1943 but also participated in the Salon d'Automne and then the Salon des Indépendants. At the same time, inspired by the works of Roger de la Fresnaye, he painted many still lifes where the motif of the plate is very often found. If Jean-Marie Calmettes seems close to the paths of abstraction in his compositions, he nevertheless always draws his sources of inspiration from reality. His work is first recognized abroad. His first solo exhibition takes place in Montreal in 1950. Many solo exhibitions follow in France and abroad. His works can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Le Havre, Brussels, New York, London... Source: L'Ecole de Paris 1945-1965, Dictionnaire des peintres. Lydia Harambourg. Collection Ides et Calendes