Claude Bleynie, Woman As A Unicorn Facing A White Horse, 1950

Institutional Reference :

This composition by Claude Bleynie depicts a hybrid female figure, reclining facing a white horse, in a world that straddles the line between the marvelous and the fantastic.

The work is distinguished by a bold graphic style, combining angular shapes, sinuous lines, and a color palette dominated by ochres, browns, and blues. The contrast between the dark silhouette of the unicorn-woman and the luminous head of the horse structures the composition, while stylized vegetation brings the whole scene to life.

Conceived as a tapestry design, this work reflects a decorative approach in which the simplification of forms, the rhythm of the lines, and the flat areas of color play an essential role.

Biography :

Born in Paris in 1923, Claude Bleynie was a French painter, tapestry designer, ceramicist, and decorator associated with the revival of mural art and Aubusson tapestry in the second half of the 20th century. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied until 1942, he was taught by painters such as André Lhote and Jean Souverbie. He was initially interested in painting and ceramics before gradually turning his attention to the decorative arts and textile design.

In 1952, his encounter with Jean Picart Le Doux, a leading figure in modern French tapestry, marked a decisive turning point in his career. Under Le Doux’s guidance, he discovered the expressive possibilities of tapestry cartoons, a discipline in which he soon developed his own personal style. Beginning in 1958, Claude Bleynie exhibited at the La Demeure gallery in Paris, a key venue for the promotion and recognition of contemporary tapestry. He also participated in several events dedicated to mural art and its renewal.

His particularly prolific body of textile work includes more than 300 tapestry cartoons, mainly produced by the Andraud workshops in Aubusson. He also collaborated on large-scale decorative projects, notably for the ocean liner France, for which he designed carpet cartoons intended for the luxury suite “Île de France.” His artistic world combines poetic figuration with great ornamental freedom. Fantastic birds, horses, female figures, and stylized flowers and plants make up an imaginary repertoire where nature readily blends with mythology and the fantastical.