Jean-Michel Atlan

Jean-Michel Atlan (1913-1960) was born in Constantine, Algeria, and moved to Paris in 1930 to study philosophy at the Sorbonne. In 1941 he launched himself as an essentially self-taught artist, following an intellectual path that led him from the publishing of his own poetry, with its strongly rhythmic elements, to experimentation with painting. In 1942 he was arrested for his Jewish heritage and for his political activism as part of the French Resistance, an experience that shaped both his life and his artistic sensibility.

After the war and the occupation of Paris ended, Atlan held his first exhibition at the Galerie Arc en Ciel. In 1946 he became part of the CoBrA art group, and his own studio on the Rue de la Grande-Chaumière became a gathering place for the movement. The CoBrA group, formed by Karel Appel, Constant, Corneille, Christian Dotremont, Asger Jorn, and Joseph Noiret, espoused a complete freedom of form and color in art and opposed the Surrealism movement. Under the group's influence, Atlan's paintings of this period consisted of abstract and fanciful shapes that often resembled animals. In 1955 works including Le Kahena and Composition were exhibited at the Galerie Carpenter.

By 1956, Atlan had found his own particular style, consisting of strong, consolidated black lines that enclosed pastel-colored areas of color. During the 1950s his works were well received in France, England, Japan, and the United States. Atlan died of cancer in Paris on February 12, 1960 and was buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery. At the time of his death he was considered an important member of the Nouvelle École de Paris.