Bocian, Abstract composition, mixed technique on canvas, 1949

Bocian, signed and dated. 

Mixed technique on canvas mounted on chassis. Landscape format, representing an abstract composition in ochre shades, sinuous shapes in white, black and red colors.

Signed « Bocian » and dated 1949 on the bottom.
Relined canvas, meaning attached to an existing one. Lining probably realized in the 1980s. Some restoration marks on the canvas.

Dimensions : 1H 131 x W 221 x D 4 cm.

Reference : LS40362201

Bocian (1912-2002) is the nickname of Bohumîr Strohalm, a Czechoslovak painter naturalized in France.
He was born at Stravkov (Czechoslovak) and was a student of the Applied Art School of Czechoslovakia.
He arrived in Paris in 1938 and joined the French army during the war.
At the liberation, he pursued his studies at the Montpellier Faculty then Aix-en-Provence. He showed little of his work but staredt in 1949 to participate at the Paris Salon des Artistes Indépendants (*Independents Artists Salon) then the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles in 1973 (* New realities Salon).
He was first a drawer then a painter. He started using mixed techniques in 1950, a period where he realized large abstract and lyrical compositions. In 1960, he started created reliefs in plastic material.
In 1954, from January the 12^th to February the 12^th; he was invited by André Breton to expose at the gallery A l’Étoile scellée.
He returned to Czech republic in the 1990’s with his wife and had a important retrospective in 1997-1998.

Sources :

E.Benezit, Dictionnaire des peintres sculpteurs dessinateurs et graveurs, Gründ, Paris, 1999, Tome 2, p.434