Félix Labisse

About

Félix Labisse was a French Surrealist painter, illustrator, scriptwriter, and theatre designer born in Marchiennes in 1905.[6] He was of Flemish and Polish descent and worked across France and Belgium throughout his career.[7] After settling in Paris in 1932, Labisse became one of the leading figures of modern French art by the 1940s, dividing his creative energy between painting, theatrical design, and literary work.[1][2] Labisse's artistic practice was remarkably diverse. He created costumes and scenery for 60 theatrical productions, including notable works such as Jean-Paul Sartre's Le Diable et le Bon Dieu (1951) and Kafka's The Trial, staged by director Jean-Louis Barrot.[1][2] His illustration work was equally prolific, including 30 paintings for a Natural History project and designs for Baudelaire's poetry collection.[2] His paintings are characterized by a blend of fantasy, magic, and eroticism, with particular fame arising from his iconic "blue women" series introduced in the early 1960s—ethereal female forms with smooth contours, lacquered skin, and striking oversized eyes.[1][2] Labisse's work has been exhibited in major museums across France, Belgium, and internationally, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, though most of his pieces remain in private collections and appear regularly at international art auctions.[2]

Surrealism with elements of Flemish Expressionism; characterized by fantasy, magic, eroticism, and metamorphosis themes