PARIS.- On December 12, Christie’s will celebrate a major figure of the Paris art scene with the auction Vivre la couleur: hommage à Jean Fournier. This event will reflect on the profound legacy of a man who significantly impacted the history of painting. Jean Fournier dedicated his life to advocating for modernity and maintained a gallery that showcased some of the greatest artists of his time. After nearly 70 years, his gallery closed its doors this year. The auction at Christie’s features 35 works, focusing particularly on artists from the 1950s to the 1970s whom Fournier passionately supported, including Simon Hantaï, Sam Francis, Shirley Jaffe, Joan Mitchell, Jean Paul Riopelle, James Bishop, and Claude Viallat.

In 1963, he opened his gallery on Rue du Bac in Paris, having previously started in a bookshop-gallery on Avenue Kléber. This new space quickly became a haven for artists and a meeting point for creative minds. Fournier was among the first to exhibit American artists who arrived in Paris through the G.I. Bill—grants provided by the United States after the war. Previously known mainly through magazines, these artists found at the Galerie Jean Fournier a space to showcase their work and engage in dialogue with French artists. This connection led Simon Hantaï, an admirer of American art, to introduce Fournier to Sam Francis and Joan Mitchell. Though Canadian, Jean Paul Riopelle is linked to this group through his relationship with Joan Mitchell, creating a vital bridge between the American and French art scenes.

Viewing art as a quest, an exchange of ideas and visions, Jean Fournier fosters a profound intellectual and aesthetic dialogue with artists. He aligned with the art movements of his time and championed a modernity that aimed to redefine the boundaries of contemporary creation. Beyond presenting outstanding exhibitions, he provided unwavering support to artists during a pivotal moment in the history of art, when the foundations of abstract painting were being challenged.

Through the distribution of publications enriched by contributions from prestigious authors and strong connections with leading museum institutions, Fournier successfully promoted and disseminated the work of his artists, ensuring their international recognition.

The meeting with Simon Hantaï was pivotal for both Jean Fournier and the artist. Hantaï’s work unveiled a new artistic vision to the young gallery owner, who offered him steadfast support throughout their lives. This mutual admiration became a unique chapter in the history of galleries in France. The auction features several works by Hantaï, including M.m. 25 (estimated at €300,000 – €500,000), exemplifying this exceptional relationship.

Among the auction highlights is one of the most emblematic paintings by Shirley Jaffe, which showcases her vision of abstraction, distinct from the gestural abstraction of her contemporaries (estimated at €50,000 - €70,000).

A work by Jean Paul Riopelle from 1963-1964 (estimated at €120,000 – €180,000) and an oil on canvas by James Bishop (estimated at €60,000 - €80,000) also reflect the vision on which Jean Fournier built this extraordinary collection.

However, it is Joan Mitchell’s iconic painting Untitled from 1956 (estimated at €1,500,000 - €2,000,000), dedicated to Jean Fournier that stands as the centerpiece of the auction. This flagship work embodies the relationship between the artist and her dealer, symbolizing the gallery’s commitment to Abstract Expressionism.

A true champion of the arts, Jean Fournier also created links between generations of artists and movements. Simon Hantaï, Pierre Buraglio—present in the auction with a 1981 Fenêtre (estimated at €7,000 – €10,000)—and Claude Viallat all found a home in Fournier’s gallery. Several works by Viallat, with estimates ranging from €12,000 to €20,000, attest to Fournier’s loyalty to artists, even as he embraced a variety of movements, not just Supports-Surfaces or BMPT.

Jean Fournier’s legacy will continue to thrive through these works.

To ensure that Jean Fournier’s impact endures for future generations, the gallery has arranged several significant donations: a selection of paintings from various artists will go to the Musée Fabre in Montpellier, and a collection of graphic works and documents will be donated to the Frac Picardie – Hauts de France in Amiens. Additionally, the complete archives from 1957 to 2024 have been entrusted to the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA) in Paris.

In addition to the auction on December 12, other works from the Jean Fournier collection will feature in dedicated sections in Christie’s Post-War and contemporary art auctions in April and June 2025.

"Jean Fournier was on display at the gallery. He breathed in the paintings the loved, gave the impression of inhaling them, you had to live them or nothing, it was intimately public." - Dominique Fourcade, 2006