Francis Picabia catalogue raisonné - Volume III (1927-1939)

Innovative collage-paintings and flamboyant figural compositions known as “monsters” that dominated Picabia’s output in the mid-1920s gave way to new artistic directions during 1927. The most important of these was an exploration of the concept of transparency in many forms, first through the addition of new elements to his own pre-existing works, then through the elaboration of complex compositions, the so-called “transparencies,” superimposing outlined figures, animals, plants, and other motifs of various origins.

However, Picabia’s characteristic refusal of stylistic consistency endured. His production during this period also encompassed imposing representational compositions with firmly contoured and solidly colored forms, thickly painted topographical landscapes, curvilinear abstractions, and, toward the end, photo-based figural paintings foreshadowing his notorious nudes of the early 1940s.

The authors : Beverley Calté is an independent scholar and current president of the Comité Picabia. William A. Camfield is professor emeritus of art history, Rice University. Candace Clements is an independent art historian. Arnauld Pierre is professor of art history, Université Paris-Sorbonne.

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