GERARD SCHNEIDER, THE LYRICAL ABSTRACTION AS ASCETISM

Artvera's, the modern art gallery located in the heart of the old town of Geneva, offers once more until end of May a major exhibition.

In the six extraordinary rooms, it celebrates a Master of lyrical Abstraction, member of the « Nouvelle Ecole de Paris », Gérard Schneider. Bringing together forty paintings and works on paper, all created between 1945 and 1975, which were the grand years of the artist.   Most   of   them   were   never   exhibited before and they come from important international private collections! This event will allow the visitors to discover or rediscover a prominent artistic personality of the art history of the XX° century.

Gérard Schneider, one of the masters of lyrical abstraction  

It is a twenty year old Swiss that leaves to study at the « Beaux Arts » in Paris. And finally settles there. During this after-war period, Schneider plays a key role in art history and becomes one of the greatest international Masters of lyrical Abstraction, who took off, under the creative and innovative impulsion of a few artists, Gérard Schneider being one of them.   

In 1955, Herta Wescher, art critic, describes his works in thèse words:  "Powerful, controlled painting to the extent that at every step of completion the entire design is asserted, surprising, because the final state continuously retains the virulence of the creative act. Acting as a vehement improvisation, this painting hides the most conscientious arrangement of elements, the most sévère control of rapports. Based on color, it starts, however, with linear motifs, but the line has evolved into broad two-hand wide brushstrokes. Obviously, such writing outgrows Small frames, and it is by filling larger frames that it brings us the assertion of its sovereign force… »   

Artevera’s will have the pleasure to present for the first time, and this thanks to the precious help of Mrs Loïs Schneider, one of the largest creations of Gérard Schneider, which is almost four meters long !

• New publication available since November 2012  

Gérard Schneider, The Lyrical Abstraction as asceticism  
152 hardbound pages, 40 colour reproductions and a very large number of documents
Bilingual edition:  English/French Price:  CHF 45.-  EUR 35.-