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Michel Parmentier and the 1967 Radical Painting Manifesto

artist · 2026-04-23

In 1967, a group of young artists declared that painting began with them, sparking controversy with their minimalist approach. Daniel Buren, Olivier Mosset, Michel Parmentier, and Niele Toroni collectively asserted this position after a decade dominated by Neo-Dadaist movements like Pop Art and Nouveau Réalisme. Their practice was reduced to essential elements, challenging established artistic norms. The artists' unified public stance represented a significant break from preceding trends. Their work provoked scandal through its radical simplicity and conceptual rigor. This collective declaration marked a pivotal moment in late 1960s French art, positioning these four figures as central to a new artistic discourse.

Key facts

  • The year 1967 saw a group of young artists claim painting began with them
  • Daniel Buren, Olivier Mosset, Michel Parmentier, and Niele Toroni formed this collective
  • Their position emerged after a decade of Neo-Dadaist movements like Pop Art and Nouveau Réalisme
  • The artists practiced a reduced, essential approach to painting
  • Their collective manifestation created scandal in the art world
  • The group asserted their position through unified public statements
  • Their work represented a break from preceding artistic trends
  • The controversy centered on their minimalist methodology

Entities

Artists

  • Daniel Buren
  • Olivier Mosset
  • Michel Parmentier
  • Niele Toroni

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources