Jean Lurçat

A friend asked me to photograph a small tapestry that they have hanging on the wall of their home.  It turned out to be by Jean Lurçat, renowned French artist who lived a good part of his life in this locality and worked in a whole range of mediums including ceramics and tapestry.   Lurçat was a contemporary of Cézanne and Matisse and collaborated with many artists during his lifetime including Raoul Dufy.  He was an active supporter of the Maquis during the second world war. Lurçat  died in 1966 but his works are well known throughout France.  He is held in high esteem here in Saint Céré and his former home (now a museum housing his works) is a castle that sits high above the town.  I find his tapestry work a bit "trippy", but there is no denying his artistry and his vivid combination of colours.  I wonder how many other masterpieces hang on the walls of small houses that just happen to be in the vicinity where a famous artist lived and worked.  How many of these were bought for a soupçon or given away by the artist to neighbours as gifts?