Note on Nicolas de Staël

“Ne pas s’occuper de l’espace mais se préoccuper de l’espace.” (Not to tend space but to take care of, to care about, to be concerned with, to be preoccupied with space) In a documentary about her father (1914-1955), Anne de Staël talks in these words about his approach to painting. The distinction she makes is a subtle, but very important one; a similar intention is at the source of the work of designer Brynjar Sigurdarson, who is featured in the upcoming issue of Field Essays.

Image:
Nicolas de Staël, Calais, 1954, huile sur toile, 46 x 61 cm
Collection privée © J.L.Losi © Adagp, Paris, 2014

Viewed at the retrospective Lumières du Nord Lumières du Sud, Nicolas de Staël (1914-1951),
Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux, Le Havre.