E & R Cyzer and Alon Zakaim Fine Art
ROBERT MARC
Reflections and Rediscovery
Reflections and Rediscovery A selling exhibition presented by
E & R Cyzer
20TH CENTURY ART
Alon Zakaim Fine Art
4
Introduction The Cyzer Gallery and Alon Zakaim Fine Art are pleased to present an exhibition by Robert Marc, a recently rediscovered French Cubist who painted in the second half of the 20th Century. The works in this new exhibition, executed between 1960 and 1990, have remained hidden from the public eye for 20 years. This joint venture, being staged by both galleries simultaneously, will unveil the works and make them available for sale to both familiar international connoisseurs and a new UK audience. Born in Auxerre, Marc spent his youth in Switzerland before returning to France to study art. An experimental artist, he enjoyed working with diverse media. His inspiration stemmed from the museums of Europe where he studied early Modernism. Whilst Paris in the 1960s was the backdrop to his formative years as a painter, he preferred to paint in his studio in the French countryside, where the majority of these works were executed. During his career, Marc exhibited in France and internationally, including shows in New York and Tokyo, developing a wide following throughout Europe, Japan and the United States until his untimely death in 1993.
Barry Friedman, an influential New York dealer of more than forty years’ experience, discovered Marc in the early 1980s. A series of Robert Marc exhibitions were presented during the 1980s and 1990s at the Barry Friedman Gallery and we are most grateful for Barry’s foreword to this catalogue, which gives us a very personal insight to Marc the man and the painter. Marc’s paintings are rich and complex, reflecting an influence of the Cubist tradition, but with his own unique powerful combination of classic, painterly techniques and abstract forms. With a strong secondary market, today Marc’s paintings are found in private and public collections internationally. We hope that this London show will expand his collecting base and give the public an opportunity to explore Marc’s extraordinary oeuvre. E & R Cyzer
Alon Zakaim Fine Art
Foreword In the early 1980s, I purchased a wonderful unsigned cubist painting from a gallery in Paris. It was sold to me as the work of an anonymous 1930s eastern European painter. I later learned that it was in fact the work of a talented contemporary French artist named Robert Marc. At that time, Marc didn’t sign his paintings, as he believed that the signature interfered with the image, and his true identity was only revealed to me when Robert contacted me directly to inform me of his authorship. We met in Paris and quickly developed a friendship. He had a kind, charming, and genuine personality, and I took him on as an artist. His paintings, heavily influenced by the Russian Avant-Garde and the work of Rodchenko, not the Analytic Cubists, as his style would imply, were complex and superb in quality. France in the 1960s was an exciting time. Historically, student revolts and social upheavals took centre stage, but culturally, the decade boomed with jazz, literature, art, and fashion trends. While influenced by this dizzying culture, Robert Marc preferred the quiet life of the countryside and his atelier there. His various studios on his property were filled with paintings, works on paper, and tools of the trade. Walking through the studios for me was like viewing a retrospective: his earlier works, dark and saturated, and his later works, colourful, and filled with drawings and typography, met you at every turn.
In 1989, Robert had his first solo exhibition in the United States in my Madison Avenue gallery. The show of 25 paintings was a great success, both critically and in terms of sales. We sold out the entire show. Many of the works were acquired by important architects and interior designers, who placed them in very distinguished collections. Our second solo show of Marc’s work followed in 1995 with continued success. For me, the most important quality about Robert Marc was his character. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I believe that his intelligence, humour and vision helped him create surfaces so geometrically and richly constructed. Barry Friedman January 2011
1
9367
Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cm
9366
Collage on board 97 x 78 cm
2
3
1520
Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cm
9375
Oil on board 65 x 54 cm
4
5
9497
Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cm
9499
Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cm
6
7
9522
Oil on board 19 x 19 cm
15871
Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm
8
9
9567
Oil on canvas 190 x 70 cm
9570
Oil on canvas 188 x 97.2 cm
10
11
9582
Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cm
9590
Oil on canvas 128.4 x 96.5 cm
12
13
9642
Oil on canvas 49 x 59 cm
9644
Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm
14
15
9656
Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm
9641
Oil on canvas 65 x 50 cm
16
17
9593
Oil on canvas 46 x 54 cm
9552
Oil on board 34.5 x 19.5 cm
18
19
9668
Oil on canvas 38 x 46 cm
9688
Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm
20
21
9361
Oil on canvas 75 x 104.7 cm
9722
Oil on canvas 81 x 54 cm
22
23
9707
Oil on canvas 100 x 65 cm
15876
Oil on canvas 190 x 55 cm
24
25
9714
Oil on canvas 99 x 81 cm
9664
Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm
26
27
9717
Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cm
15873
Collage on board 50 x 40 cm
28
29
10278
Oil on canvas 81 x 65 cm
15868
Oil on canvas 195 x 97 cm
30
31
9710
Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm
9720
Oil on canvas 90 x 90 cm
32
33
15874
Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cm
34
15875
Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cm
9580
Oil on canvas 180.3 x 80 cm
35
36
9643
Oil on canvas 45.1 x 26.1 cm
9634
Oil on canvas 26.6 x 35 cm
37
38
9569
Oil on canvas 195 x 97.1 cm
17049
Oil on canvas 74 x 60 cm
39
40
9658
Oil on canvas 42 x 60.5 cm
9708
Oil on canvas 82.6 x 118.1 cm
41
42
9650
Mixed media on board 35.5 x 44.5 cm
9657
Mixed media on board 40 x 50.8 cm
43
44
9380
Oil on canvas 40 x 29.8 cm
9471
Oil on canvas 19.1 x 14 cm
45
46
9759
Mixed media on board 59 x 78 cm
Composition à l’as de Coeur Oil on board 42 x 50 cm
47
Catalogue The provenance for all works listed is as follows: Estate of the Artist Forum Gallery, New York Barry Friedman Ltd., New York All works included in the exhibition are accompanied by a certificate of authentication kindly issued by Barry Friedman.
1 9367 Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
10 9570 Oil on canvas 188 x 97.2 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 11 9582 Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 12 9590 Oil on canvas 128.4 x 96.5 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 13 9642 Oil on canvas 49 x 59 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
2 9366 Collage on board 97 x 78 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
14 9644 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc Forum Gallery Ref: FO20533G
3 1520
15 9656 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
4 9375 Oil on board 65 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
16 9641 Oil on canvas 65 x 50 cm
5 9497 Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
17 9593 Oil on canvas 46 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
6 9499 Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
18 9552
7 9522 Oil on board 19 x 19 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
19 9668 Oil on canvas 38 x 46 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
8 15871
20 9688 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
9 9567
21 9361 Oil on canvas 75 x 104.7 cm Signed lower right: Robert Marc
Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cm Signed lower left and on the reverse: Robert Marc
Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cm Signed upper left: Robert Marc Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus.p.39 Oil on canvas 190 x 70 cm Signed lower centre and on the reverse: Robert Marc Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.228 Forum Gallery Ref: FO20402G
Signed lower left and on the reverse: Robert Marc Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.56
Oil on board 34.5 x 19.5 cm
22 9722 Oil on canvas 81 x 54 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
23 9707 Oil on canvas 100 x 65 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
36 9643 Oil on canvas 45.1 x 26.1 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
24 15876 Oil on canvas 190 x 55 cm Signed lower right: Robert Marc
37 9634 Oil on canvas 26.6 x 35 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
25 9714 Oil on canvas 99 x 81 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
38 9569 Oil on canvas 195 x 97.1 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
26 9664 Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
39 17049 Oil on canvas 74 x 60 cm Signed lower centre and on the reverse: Robert Marc
27 9717 Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
40 9658 Oil on canvas 42 x 60.5 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc Forum Gallery Ref: FO205459 Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.168
28 15873 Collage on board 50 x 40 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 29 10278
Oil on canvas 81 x 65 cm Signed lower centre and on the stretcher on the reverse: Robert Marc
30 15868 Oil on canvas 195 x 97 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 31 9710 Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm Signed lower centre and on the reverse: Robert Marc 32 9720 Oil on canvas 90 x 90 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 33 15874
Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
34 15875 Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cm Signed lower centre and on the stretcher on the reverse: Robert Marc Inscribed on the reverse: Nickel x 35 9580 Oil on canvas 180.3 x 80 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
41 9708 Oil on canvas 82.6 x 118.1 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 42 9650 Mixed media on board 35.5 x 44.5 cm Signed lower left: Robert Marc 43 9657 Mixed media on board 40 x 50.8 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc Forum Gallery Ref: FO20544 44 9380 Oil on canvas 40 x 29.8 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 45 9471 Oil on canvas 19.1 x 14 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc 46 9759 Mixed media on board 59 x 78 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.140 47 Composition à l’as de Coeur Oil on board 42 x 50 cm Signed lower centre: Robert Marc
Robert Marc (1943-1993)
Collections Museum The Berardo Collection-Sintra Museum of Modern Art Lisbon, Portugal
Selected Private Collections Anita Aronoff, New York Harold Blankstein, Chicago, IL Alan Feingold, MO Donald Flynn, Chicago, IL Barry Friedman Collection, NY Estelle Greer, NY Bruce Gregga, Chicago, IL Victoria Hagen Interiors, NY D. Henry, New York Michael Klein, TX David Kleinberg, New York Peter Marino, New York Permutter Collection, Palm Beach, FL Dr. Alan Roizen, NY Ms Dorianne Hutton Samuels, CT Carl Steele, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Stan Topol, Atlanta, GA Marc Wecksler, MD, New York Joan Weinstein, Chicago, IL P Guérrand Hérmes, France Stanislas Machoïr, France
Robert Marc (1943-1993)
Selected Exhibitions 1996 Galerie Paul Dubois, Troyes, France 1995 Barry Friedman Gallery, New York, Hommage à Robert Marc Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Metz 1994 Galerie du Resort, Paris, Robert Marc 1943-1993, this exhibition travelled to Galerie Verdaine, Geneva, Switzerland 1992 Tokyo, Japan, Corporate Exhibition 1991 Galerie Verdaine, Geneva, Switzerland Galerie du Resort, Paris 1990 Galerie Rapin-Latour, Paris 1989 Barry Friedman, New York, Robert Marc. An exhibition of 25 Cubist Paintings, this exhibition travelled to Galerie Artko, Toulouse, France 1988 Galerie Artko, Toulouse, France, Robert Marc
Literature May Picasso, Robert Marc, an essay, 1995 Exhibition Catalogue, Barry Friedman Ltd, Robert Marc Collages, New York, 1992 Tribune de Geneve, Robert Marc, November 29, 1987 Robert Marc, F.P. Lobies Editions, preface by Sylvie Clidiere, La Châtre, France, 1990
All sales enquiries: Ben Springett Brooke Perrin Alon Zakaim Fine Art E&R Cyzer E: gallery@alonzakaim.com E: info@cyzerart.com T: +44 (0) 20 7629 0100 T: +44 (0) 20 7287 7750 To view a selection of the artist’s works, please visit www.robert-marc-collection.com
Designer: Sharon Smart Photography: Roy Fox Fine Art Printed by C3 Printers, London, 2011 Research & Cataloguing: Will Thorburn, Rebecca Mundy, Ben Springett, Brooke Perrin
Alon Zakaim E & R Cyzer 20TH CENTURY ART
23 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QF Tel: +44 (0) 20 7629 0100 www.cyzerart.com
Fine Art
30 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG Tel: +44 (0) 20 7287 7750 www.alonzakaim.com
E & R Cyzer
Alon Zakaim
20TH CENTURY ART
Fine Art
23 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QF Tel: +44 (0)20 7629 0100 www.cyzerart.com
30 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG Tel: +44 (0)20 7287 7750 www.alonzakaim.com