André Lanskoy (1902-1976) Gouache On Paper, Mature Period (circa 1955-1965), Abstract Painting

This gouache belongs to the artist’s mature period, when his abstract language reached full affirmation. At this time, Lanskoy developed his characteristic fragmented aesthetic, built like a constellation of juxtaposed irregular shapes, almost mosaic-like. Soft yet structuring dark lines outline areas of flat colour, composed of gentle blues, greens, pinks, beiges, and greys, punctuated by deep blacks that organise the visual rhythm.

The work presents itself as a non-figurative abstract composition, structured by a sinuous network reminiscent at times of stained-glass partitioning or a contemporary mosaic. The coloured forms articulate subtly with one another, without a true centre, inviting a free interpretation. The nuanced, harmonious palette alternates between light zones and denser passages, giving the surface a vibrating, almost musical movement. A few stronger touches – including a bright red accent – create visual focal points within the structure.

The generous brushwork reveals a rich application of medium, where the gouache is laid on thickly, producing surface reliefs that capture the light. The whole expresses the sensibility characteristic of Lanskoy during his mature phase, rooted in the relationship between colour, material and structure, where lyrical abstraction fully blossoms.

Through its style, palette and composition, this work can be attributed to the 1955–1965 period, one of the artist’s most accomplished phases, when fragmentation became his language and the composition, balanced and vibrant, conveyed the inner energy of his painting.

In the lower left, the signature "LANSKOY" is incised directly into the paint, confirming a confident and spontaneous gesture typical of his works from the 1950s–60s.

The work is in very good condition, the colours remain fresh. (Very slight humidity traces to note.)

Sight size: 31 × 23 cm
Frame size: 48 × 40 cm

About the artist

André Lanskoy (1902–1976) was a Russian-born painter who became one of the major figures of lyrical abstraction and the New School of Paris. Born in Moscow to an aristocratic family, he left Russia after the Civil War and settled in Paris in 1921. He quickly devoted himself fully to painting and became part of the Montparnasse artistic scene.

His early works were figurative – portraits, landscapes and still lifes – already marked by a strong interest in colour. From the late 1930s onward, his style gradually shifted toward abstraction, which he embraced definitively in the early 1940s. Lanskoy then developed a pictorial language based on colour vibration, rhythmic forms and expressive materiality.

A recognised artist, he exhibited in France and internationally, expanding his practice to gouache, lithography, collage, tapestry and mosaic. His work, rich and experimental, remains a significant contribution to 20th-century abstract art. Lanskoy died in Paris in 1976, leaving behind a prolific body of work celebrated today in many collections and exhibitions.

Works by André Lanskoy are held in several major French museums, including the Centre Pompidou and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. The LaM in Villeneuve-d’Ascq possesses one of the most important collections of his work. Other museums, such as those in Grenoble, Le Havre, Colmar and Mulhouse, also hold pieces. Abroad, Lanskoy is represented in major public collections, notably at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent (Belgium) and in several institutions across Europe and the United States.

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Photographs were taken in natural light.
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