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While the Impressionists were thinking about light and visual sensations in paintings like “Snow effects in Giverny” – Monet, 1893, a group of French artists called “The Incoherent” were having fun behind their backs! They produced the first monochromes: “Boozy patrol in fog” (grey); “Tomato harvest by apoplectic cardinals along the red sea” (Red); “N***** fight in a Cave during the night” (Black), “First communion of chlorous young ladies in the snow” (White)…
But Malevich’s “White Square on White field” (1918) is considered to be the first monochromes in Art History. He wanted to express the absoluteness of painting: by freeing the mind of material considerations, he pushed us towards a dynamic and infinite space!
Following this radical act, several artists became famous in monochrome painting, bringing new ideas in their artworks…
Yves Klein invented the International Klein Blue and obtained a patent protected by the Intellectual Property Law for it. He basically owned the colour! (Well… not exactly: he owns the technique for this colour, and you cannot obtain the colour without the technique smile emoticon ) His goal was both commercial and conceptual…
Lucio Fontana became famous by cutting and perforating monochrome canvas. By doing so, he questioned the flat nature of the canvas and transformed painting into sculpture by a single and simple act.
Pierre Soulages could have been the director of “Fifty shades of black”!
Gerhard Richter is the king for… producing large grey canvas/surfaces and selling them for millions of pounds in the Marian Goodman gallery and elsewhere. Honestly, this I cannot explain… Maybe he’s just melancholic…
In short, impressionist and modern artists revisited the requisite of ‘form’ and ‘space’; abstract painters like Kandinsky sapped the notion of ‘subject’; Duchamp reinvented the ‘authenticity’ requirement; and monochromes hallowed and killed (at the same time!) ‘colour’… No wonder why the 1st half of the 20th century laid the foundation for an art out of control (and sometimes out of our understanding)!
From the Venice Biennale to Documenta, including Art Basel, Les Rencontres d’Arles, and the Avignon Festival, summer 2026 is shaping up to be exceptional for art lovers. Here are the key events to add to your calendar between June and September 2026.
When contemporary art meets color, your walls become a true expression of yourself. With Artsper and Blime, discover three iconic artworks enhanced by carefully chosen palettes designed to inspire your interior design.
Hugo Genin, an interior architect, shares five tips for incorporating art into professional spaces. Learn how to choose, place, and light your artworks to enhance offices, practices, or reception areas.
At Artsper, we are committed to the inclusivity of art. Let’s examine the overdue recognition of Black abstract artists in the art market.
Monochrome art is considered by some as an extreme form of abstraction. Since its emergence in the early 20th century, the genre hasn't ceased to fascinate and inspire viewers... But why do artists create monochrome art?
His hypnotising blue works are in every major museum across the world, and are a testament to the artist that revolutionised the 20th century art scene. Artsper invites you to discover 10 remarkable facts about the incredible life and work of Yves Klein.
Founded in 2013, Artsper is an online marketplace for contemporary art. Partnering with 1,800 professional art galleries around the world, it makes discovering and acquiring art accessible to all.
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