Robert Marc - Reflections and Rediscovery

E & R Cyzer 20TH CENTURY ART

Reflections and RediscoveryA selling exhibition presented by

Alon ZakaimFine Art

4

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

Introduction

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

Foreword

9367Oil on canvas100 x 80 cm

1

29366 Collage on board

97 x 78 cm

1520Oil on canvas162 x 97 cm

3

49375 Oil on board

65 x 54 cm

9497Collage on board15.5 x 21.5 cm

5

69499Collage on board

15.5 x 21.5 cm

9522Oil on board19 x 19 cm

7

815871Oil on canvas

65 x 54 cm

9567Oil on canvas190 x 70 cm

9

109570Oil on canvas188 x 97.2 cm

9582Oil on canvas162 x 97 cm

11

129590Oil on canvas

128.4 x 96.5 cm

9642Oil on canvas49 x 59 cm

13

149644Oil on canvas

65 x 54 cm

9656Oil on canvas65 x 54 cm

15

169641Oil on canvas

65 x 50 cm

9593Oil on canvas46 x 54 cm

17

189552Oil on board

34.5 x 19.5 cm

9668Oil on canvas38 x 46 cm

19

209688Oil on canvas

65 x 54 cm

9361Oil on canvas75 x 104.7 cm

21

229722Oil on canvas

81 x 54 cm

9707Oil on canvas100 x 65 cm

23

2415876Oil on canvas

190 x 55 cm

9714Oil on canvas99 x 81 cm

25

269664Oil on canvas

50 x 50 cm

9717Oil on canvas100 x 80 cm

27

2815873Collage on board

50 x 40 cm

10278Oil on canvas81 x 65 cm

29

3015868Oil on canvas

195 x 97 cm

9710Oil on canvas92 x 73 cm

31

329720Oil on canvas

90 x 90 cm

15874Oil on canvas170 x 20 cm

33 15875Oil on canvas170 x 20 cm

34

359580Oil on canvas180.3 x 80 cm

9643Oil on canvas45.1 x 26.1 cm

36

379634Oil on canvas26.6 x 35 cm

9569Oil on canvas195 x 97.1 cm

38

3917049Oil on canvas

74 x 60 cm

9658Oil on canvas42 x 60.5 cm

40

419708Oil on canvas

82.6 x 118.1 cm

9650Mixed media on board35.5 x 44.5 cm

42

439657Mixed media on board

40 x 50.8 cm

9380Oil on canvas40 x 29.8 cm

44

459471Oil on canvas19.1 x 14 cm

9759Mixed media on board59 x 78 cm

46

47Composition à l’as de CoeurOil on board

42 x 50 cm

The provenance for all works listed is as follows:Estate of the ArtistForum Gallery, New YorkBarry 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 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

2 9366 Collage on board 97 x 78 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

3 1520 Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cmSigned lower left and on the reverse: Robert Marc

4 9375 Oil on board 65 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

5 9497 Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

6 9499 Collage on board 15.5 x 21.5 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

7 9522 Oil on board 19 x 19 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

8 15871 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cmSigned upper left: Robert MarcLiterature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus.p.39

9 9567 Oil on canvas 190 x 70 cmSigned lower centre and on the reverse: Robert MarcLiterature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.228Forum Gallery Ref: FO20402G

10 9570 Oil on canvas 188 x 97.2 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

11 9582 Oil on canvas 162 x 97 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

12 9590 Oil on canvas 128.4 x 96.5 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

13 9642 Oil on canvas 49 x 59 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

14 9644 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert MarcForum Gallery Ref: FO20533G

15 9656 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

16 9641 Oil on canvas 65 x 50 cmSigned lower left and on the reverse: Robert MarcLiterature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.56

17 9593 Oil on canvas 46 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

18 9552 Oil on board 34.5 x 19.5 cm

19 9668 Oil on canvas 38 x 46 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

20 9688 Oil on canvas 65 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

21 9361 Oil on canvas 75 x 104.7 cmSigned lower right: Robert Marc

22 9722 Oil on canvas 81 x 54 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

Catalogue

23 9707 Oil on canvas 100 x 65 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

24 15876 Oil on canvas 190 x 55 cmSigned lower right: Robert Marc

25 9714 Oil on canvas 99 x 81 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

26 9664 Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

27 9717 Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

28 15873 Collage on board 50 x 40 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

29 10278 Oil on canvas 81 x 65 cmSigned lower centre and on the stretcher on the reverse: Robert Marc

30 15868 Oil on canvas 195 x 97 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

31 9710 Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cmSigned lower centre and on the reverse: Robert Marc

32 9720 Oil on canvas 90 x 90 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

33 15874 Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

34 15875 Oil on canvas 170 x 20 cmSigned lower centre and on the stretcher on the reverse: Robert MarcInscribed on the reverse: Nickel x

35 9580 Oil on canvas 180.3 x 80 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

36 9643 Oil on canvas 45.1 x 26.1 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

37 9634 Oil on canvas 26.6 x 35 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

38 9569 Oil on canvas 195 x 97.1 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

39 17049 Oil on canvas 74 x 60 cmSigned lower centre and on the reverse: Robert Marc

40 9658 Oil on canvas 42 x 60.5 cmSigned lower centre: Robert MarcForum Gallery Ref: FO205459Literature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.168

41 9708 Oil on canvas 82.6 x 118.1 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

42 9650 Mixed media on board 35.5 x 44.5 cmSigned lower left: Robert Marc

43 9657 Mixed media on board 40 x 50.8 cmSigned lower centre: Robert MarcForum Gallery Ref: FO20544

44 9380 Oil on canvas 40 x 29.8 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

45 9471 Oil on canvas 19.1 x 14 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

46 9759 Mixed media on board 59 x 78 cmSigned lower centre: Robert MarcLiterature: Lobies (Ed)/Clidiere, 1990, illus. p.140

47 Composition à l’as de CoeurOil on board 42 x 50 cmSigned lower centre: Robert Marc

Robert Marc (1943-1993)

CollectionsMuseum

The Berardo Collection-Sintra Museum of Modern ArtLisbon, Portugal

Selected Private Collections

Anita Aronoff, New YorkHarold Blankstein, Chicago, IL

Alan Feingold, MODonald Flynn, Chicago, IL

Barry Friedman Collection, NYEstelle Greer, NY

Bruce Gregga, Chicago, ILVictoria Hagen Interiors, NY

D. Henry, New YorkMichael Klein, TX

David Kleinberg, New YorkPeter Marino, New York

Permutter Collection, Palm Beach, FLDr. Alan Roizen, NY

Ms Dorianne Hutton Samuels, CTCarl Steele, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stan Topol, Atlanta, GAMarc Wecksler, MD, New YorkJoan Weinstein, Chicago, ILP Guérrand Hérmes, France

Stanislas Machoïr, France

Robert Marc (1943-1993)

Selected Exhibitions

Literature

May Picasso, Robert Marc, an essay, 1995Exhibition Catalogue, Barry Friedman Ltd, Robert Marc Collages, New York, 1992

Tribune de Geneve, Robert Marc, November 29, 1987Robert Marc, F.P. Lobies Editions, preface by Sylvie Clidiere, La Châtre, France, 1990

1996 Galerie Paul Dubois, Troyes, France1995 Barry Friedman Gallery, New York, Hommage à Robert Marc Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Metz1994 Galerie du Resort, Paris, Robert Marc 1943-1993, this exhibition travelled to Galerie Verdaine, Geneva, Switzerland1992 Tokyo, Japan, Corporate Exhibition1991 Galerie Verdaine, Geneva, Switzerland Galerie du Resort, Paris1990 Galerie Rapin-Latour, Paris1989 Barry Friedman, New York, Robert Marc. An exhibition of 25 Cubist Paintings, this exhibition travelled to Galerie Artko, Toulouse, France1988 Galerie Artko, Toulouse, France, Robert Marc

All sales enquiries:

Brooke PerrinE&R Cyzer E: info@cyzerart.com T: +44 (0) 20 7629 0100

To view a selection of the artist’s works, please visit www.robert-marc-collection.com

Designer: Sharon SmartPhotography: Roy Fox Fine ArtPrinted by C3 Printers, London, 2011Research & Cataloguing: Will Thorburn, Rebecca Mundy, Ben Springett, Brooke Perrin

Ben SpringettAlon Zakaim Fine ArtE: gallery@alonzakaim.comT: +44 (0) 20 7287 7750

E & R Cyzer 20TH CENTURY ART

Alon ZakaimFine Art

30 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG Tel: +44 (0) 20 7287 7750www.alonzakaim.com

23 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QFTel: +44 (0) 20 7629 0100www.cyzerart.com