André Mare (1885 - 1932) — Horses

Horses
Watercolor on paper, signed lower right.
22 x 29 cm

Provenance:
Collection privée, Paris

André Mare: An Aesthete at the Heart of the 20thCentury

André Mare, born on May 31, 1885, in Argentan,Normandy, and died on November 3, 1932, in Paris, was a major French artist ofthe early 20th century. A painter, decorator, interior designer, and setdesigner, he is best known for his central role in the development of the ArtDeco style.
André Mare first studied at the École desBeaux-Arts in Caen, then at the École des Arts Décoratifs, and finally at theÉcole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. From the outset, he was interested in the fusionof art and decoration, seeking to break down the barriers between the so-called“major” and “minor” arts.In 1912, he participated in the Salon de laSociété des Artistes Décorateurs, where he caused a sensation with his bold,Cubism-influenced designs, notably through his collaboration with artists suchas Fernand Léger.
Mobilized during the First World War, Mare wasassigned to the French army's camouflage section, which he helped to found.There, he applied the principles of Cubism to create concealment techniques onthe battlefield, combining art and military tactics. He also brought backnumerous sketches and powerful watercolors, sensitive testimonies to the war.After the war, André Mare co-founded theCompagnie des Arts Français with Louis Süe in 1919. Together, they became keyfigures in Art Deco, a movement that valued luxury, modernity, and refinedcraftsmanship. Their style combined geometric lines, precious materials, andrevisited classical inspirations.He created many prestigious decorations, notablyfor the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts,which gave its name to the “Art Deco” style.
André Mare died prematurely in 1932, at the ageof 47, from cancer. Despite his short career, he left a deep mark on thehistory of French decorative arts. His work is characterized by a sense ofdetail, a constant search for harmony, and a spirit of innovation.An iconic figure of Art Deco, André Mareembodies the spirit of a time when art was meant to be total, encompassingpainting as well as interior architecture, furniture, and scenography.
Today,his creations are still on display in many museums, notably the Musée d'Orsay,and continue to inspire designers around the world.