Sabine Weiss and Roger Bordier's 'L'art et la manière' Series on Abstract Artists
From December 1953 to November 1954, the French publication Art d'aujourd'hui, under the direction of André Bloc, released a six-installment series titled 'L'art et la manière. Une enquête sur la technique' by Roger Bordier. This feature highlighted twenty abstract creators, including distinguished figures such as Auguste Herbin, Serge Poliakoff, and Sonia Delaunay. Photographer Sabine Weiss captured the artists' hands and methods, intentionally omitting their faces to highlight the creative process. This contrasted with the Art News series 'X paints a picture' (1949-1966), which more traditionally showcased Abstract Expressionism, providing a distinct perspective on artistic discipline and precision.
Key facts
- Series 'L'art et la manière' published in Art d'aujourd'hui from December 1953 to November 1954.
- Twenty abstract artists were interviewed about their techniques.
- Photographs by Sabine Weiss, a former assistant of Willy Maywald.
- Focus on hands and technical processes, not faces or heroic gestures.
- Contrasts with Art News's 'X paints a picture' series promoting Abstract Expressionism.
- Artists shown seated or standing in controlled, disciplined postures.
- Includes sculptors like Pevsner, Jacobsen, and Schöffer.
- Josef Albers featured in a separate Art News article by Elaine de Kooning.
- Series aimed to document the material and technical aspects of art-making.
- Art d'aujourd'hui was launched in June 1949 and targeted artists.
Entities
Artists
- Auguste Herbin
- Serge Poliakoff
- Antoine Pevsner
- Alberto Magnelli
- Jean Deyrolle
- Emile Gilioli
- Victor Vasarely
- Hans Hartung
- Edgar Pillet
- Robert Jacobsen
- Jean Dewasne
- Hans Arp
- Richard Mortensen
- André Bloc
- Silvano Bozzolini
- Sonia Delaunay
- Nicolas Schöffer
- Cicero Dias
- Michel Seuphor
- Berto Lardera
- Sabine Weiss
- Roger Bordier
- Willy Maywald
- Jackson Pollock
- Hans Namuth
- Robert Goodnough
- Harold Rosenberg
- Josef Albers
- Rudolph Burckhardt
- Elaine de Kooning
- Roger Van Gindertael
- Vassily Kandinsky
- Jean-Pierre Criqui
- Ernst Kris
- Otto Kurz
- Corine Girieud
Institutions
- Art d'aujourd'hui
- Art News
- Musée national d'art moderne
Locations
- France
- United States
Sources
- artpress —