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24/9/2003

Marcel Bovis (1904-1997)

Patricia Laligant Photographs, New York

Solarizations, Photograms & Pastels 1935-1950

Patricia Laligant is pleased to announce an exhibition of vintage photographs, Solarizations, Photograms and Pastels by French photographer Marcel Bovis.

Bovis arrived from Nice to Paris at the age of 18 to take up employment as a decorator. In 1927, he started to photograph the streets of Paris at night like Brassai, Doisneau, Jahan, and Izis. Then he studied the nude, and experimented with collage and photomontage. Bovis photographed with endless curiosity and enthusiasm throughout his life, and his images of French and North African cities are part of our collective memory.

In 1941, Bovis joined Le Rectangle and later Le Groupe des XV. In 1951, he joined another group, Dr. Otto Steinert's Subjective Photography movement in Saarbrucken, Germany. In 1952, Bovis was included in World Exhibition of Photography in Lucerne, Switzerland, one of the first such international exhibitions following World War Two.

From 1936 and throughout his career, Bovis developed an extensive and dynamic relationship with the prestigious Arts et Métiers Graphiques editions in Paris.
He realized with A.M.G. various books illustrated with his work. Bovis's photographs were also regularly reproduced in their luxurious publications next to Man Ray and Brassai.

The current gallery exhibition is primary focusing on the solarizations that Bovis realized between 1935 and 1950, mainly nudes, but also portraits and abstractions.

Fourteen pieces are solarized female nudes. Sometimes, Bovis not only solarized the photographs, but also toned them, adding color -gold or purple- at a time where black and white photography prevailed. Three different series of solarized nudes are presented in the show. Bovis said that the nude was probably the most difficult subject to photograph, and this was why he was so interested in the challenge. A variation of solarizations on a central theme in his work.

Are also included in the show, five abstract photograms realized in 1938 and in 1945 where Bovis was mainly interested in pure forms, as we know his appreciation of the Bauhaus.

A gifted artist, Bovis was also a talented draughtsman. And a few large pastels of nudes from circa 1950 are exhibited in the show. They are colorful, classical and modern at the same time. A conversation is developing between the photographs and the pastels.

In 1991, Bovis donated his great body of work, 23 000 negatives with contacts prints, to the French government, to be administered by Patrimoine Photographique, like Lartigue and Kertesz did. In 1992, at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Bovis was honored with a large retrospective of his work.

Exhibition Dates: September 25 - November 8, 2003

Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 24, 2003, 5 - 8 pm

Gallery Hours: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 11-6 pm & by

appointment Contact: Patricia Laligant

Image: Marcel Bovis, Untitled, Photogram, circa 1945-50

Patricia Laligant - Fine Vintage Photographs
150 West 28th Street - Suite 1702
New York, NY 10001 - Tel (212) 252-9922 - Fax (212) 627-2993

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