he modern and contemporary art market of the 20th century recognizes Gérard Schneider as an important contemporary painter whose abstract canvases consistently spark enthusiasm. This passion comes equally from collectors, exhibitions, and modern and contemporary art museums, as well as at auctions. His work has long secured its place in art history, particularly within the realm of abstract painting.

Born in Switzerland, Gérard Schneider (1896–1986) moved to Paris at the age of twenty, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris. He settled there permanently in 1922 and exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in 1926. Early in his painting career, his palette was dark, with black playing a structural role. In the post-war period, expressionism successfully emerged around prominent figures such as Bernard Buffet and Gen Paul, characterized by a melancholy figurative style that reflected the difficult period of the late 1940s. At this time, young artists, including Hans Hartung, Georges Mathieu, and Pierre Soulages, embraced an opposite approach. Gérard Schneider joined them, and together they established a new pictorial style, abandoning references to reality and advocating a radical return to abstraction: Lyrical Abstraction.

The 1950s marked the beginning of Schneider’s international exhibitions. His works were first presented in prestigious French and American galleries, followed by three appearances at the Venice Biennale. Later, between 1960 and 1970, Gérard Schneider introduced a new stylistic change. He freed his gestures and expanded his palette, focusing on broad movements and bright colors. As his reputation grew, a retrospective of his work was held in Turin in 1970.

The Opus series, started in 1945, is a theme Schneider explored throughout his life and offers insight into the evolution of his work. Pieces from this series are housed in major museums, including the MoMA, which acquired Opus 95B in the 1960s, and the Pompidou Center, which acquired Opus 15C from 1955 in 1982.

Aguttes Auction House has successfully auctioned several works by Gérard Schneider, achieving consistently strong results. This success is attributed to the dynamism of the Contemporary Art department, which offers collectors the opportunity to have their Gérard Schneider works appraised and estimated. The international network built over time by Aguttes Auction House connects buyers and sellers.

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