Jean Lurçat

Jean Lurçat, a distinguished French artist and master weaver, is famous for revolutionizing contemporary tapestry. His works, imbued with symbolic motifs such as nature, animals, and the universe, unfold with increasing ambition and detail over time. Among his most notable achievements is “The Song of the World” (1957-1966), a magisterial work describing a cosmology populated by ancient mythical figures.
Born on July 1, 1892, in Bruyères, France, Jean Lurçat studied at the Académie Colarossi, where he rubbed shoulders with giants of art such as Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
In 1915, he exhibited for the first time in Zurich, and in 1917, he completed “Green Girls” and “Evening in Granada,” his first major works dedicated to tapestry. During the 1920s, Lurçat traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, and various parts of Asia, while also creating commissioned tapestries. He thus became one of the first Western artists to exhibit in Soviet Russia, leaving his mark across the globe. Lurçat passed away on January 6, 1966, in Saint-Paul de Vence, France, leaving behind an immense artistic legacy. His influence extends far beyond his time, and his name remains synonymous with excellence in the world of tapestry and art in general.