Pierre Brassau: The Chimpanzee Who Fooled Sweden's Art Critics in 1964
In 1964, Gallerie Christinae in Gothenburg showcased four abstract paintings credited to French artist Pierre Brassau, receiving accolades from Swedish critic Rolf Anderberg. One piece was sold to a private collector for ninety dollars. However, the true creator was Peter, a four-year-old chimpanzee residing at Borås zoo, and the entire scheme was devised by Åke "Dacke" Axelsson, a journalist known for his satire. Axelsson facilitated Peter's painting sessions with brushes and an easel, carefully choosing the finest works to present under the alias. When the deception was uncovered, it captured global attention, yet Anderberg insisted that the artworks were the finest in the show, irrespective of the artist's identity.
Key facts
- In 1964 the Gallerie Christinae in Gothenburg, Sweden, exhibited four abstract paintings attributed to the French painter Pierre Brassau
- The paintings featured energetic brushstrokes, thick paint and a palette of blues, whites and raw browns
- Swedish critic Rolf Anderberg praised the work in a major national newspaper, comparing the brushwork to a ballet dancer's delicacy
- A private collector bought one painting for ninety dollars before the exhibition closed
- Pierre Brassau was actually Peter, a four-year-old chimpanzee at the Borås zoo
- The hoax was orchestrated by satirical journalist Åke "Dacke" Axelsson of the Göteborgs-Tidningen
- Peter initially tried to eat the oil paints and developed a preference for cobalt blue
- Anderberg refused to retract his review after the revelation, saying the Brassau works were still the best in the show
Entities
Artists
- Pierre Brassau
- Rolf Anderberg
- Åke "Dacke" Axelsson
- Peter
Institutions
- Gallerie Christinae
- Göteborgs-Tidningen
- Borås zoo
- École des Beaux-Arts
Locations
- Gothenburg
- Sweden
- Borås
- France
- Italy
- Denmark
Sources
- Arteref —