Suits - Known As Mervi,

Collage on paper, Paris, circa 1955–1965

A unique and particularly endearing work by the artist known as Suits, who signed her creations Mervi, this collage titled Immeuble Bleu bears witness to the artistic vitality of postwar Paris and the essential contribution of artists of Russian origin to what is today known as the New School of Paris.

At first glance, the composition evokes an urban facade viewed from a studio window: buildings, shops, storefronts, and rows of windows overlap in a geometric arrangement where color becomes the true subject. The cut-out papers, assembled with remarkable freedom, create a visual rhythm reminiscent of a musical score. Deep blues, greens, luminous yellows, and vibrant reds bring this imaginary architecture to life while preserving the memory of the everyday landscape that inspired the artist.

According to the oral tradition associated with this work, Immeuble Bleu is said to depict the buildings and shops located across from the artist’s Paris studio. But far from being a mere documentary transcription, Mervi transforms this familiar vision into a poetic composition in which urban forms become almost abstract. Windows metamorphose into colorful symbols, and facades into large, rhythmic blocks of color, creating a constant dialogue between figuration and abstraction.

This body of work is fully in keeping with the artistic atmosphere of Paris in the 1950s and 1960s. It reflects the influence of artists from the Russian émigré community who actively contributed to the renewal of modern French painting. The color harmonies recall certain works by Serge Poliakoff, while the poetic freedom of the composition at times evokes the sensitive world of Marc Chagall. However, Mervi maintains a distinct personality of her own, favoring collage as a means of expression and developing an original visual language where architecture, memory, and color converge.

At that time, many artists from Eastern Europe found Paris to be an exceptional testing ground for experimentation. In the studios of Montparnasse and the working-class neighborhoods of the Left Bank, painters, printmakers, poets, and designers crossed paths, helping to make the capital one of the world’s major international artistic centers. Mervi’s work is part of this cultural effervescence, while retaining an intimate and deeply personal dimension.

The collage retains a remarkable freshness today. Its luminous palette, graphic balance, and decorative power make it a particularly captivating work, capable of harmonizing equally well with a contemporary interior as with a collection dedicated to the École de Paris or to artists of Russian origin.

At once a testament to an era, a sensitive view of the city, and a composition of great modernity, Immeuble Bleu is a rare discovery by an artist who remains relatively unknown, whose works are seldom seen on the market.

Title: “Immeuble Bleu”
Artist: Suits (known as Mervi)
Collage on paper.
Paris, circa 1955–1965.
One-of-a-kind work.
In very good condition.

"In this vibrant collage, the city of Paris becomes a mosaic of colors where every window seems to tell a story. A work full of freshness, embodying the free spirit of the École de Paris and the sensibility of Russian artists living in the capital."