{"id":14702,"count":0,"description":"Jean Gourmelin (November 23, 1920, Paris \u2013 October 9, 2011, Meudon) was a French illustrator renowned for his works rooted in ideas, absurdity, and the fantastical. Influenced by surrealism, his creations reflect a unique and powerful personal universe.\n\nPrimarily working with pen and ink, Gourmelin also explored engraving, painting, and sculpture. His art delved into metaphysical themes such as chance, space, and time. Born near the Place de l'\u00c9toile in Paris to modest parents, his talent for drawing was recognized early during his studies with Robert Lesbounit.\n\nAt 14, Gourmelin moved to Vend\u00f4me with his family, where he studied at Lyc\u00e9e Ronsard. Under the mentorship of painter Charles Portel, he learned techniques in painting, stenciling, and engraving. This period also marked the beginning of his interest in surrealism, nurtured by friendships with Henry Galy-Carles and Roland Brudieux.\n\nAt 17, he enrolled at the \u00c9cole Sup\u00e9rieure des Arts D\u00e9coratifs and attended classes at the Acad\u00e9mie de la Grande-Chaumi\u00e8re. During the 1940s, he designed wallpaper for Maison Nobilis, earning initial recognition. During World War II, he worked in a metal goods factory to avoid forced labor.\n\nIn 1951, Gourmelin\u2019s first drawings appeared in the magazine Caract\u00e8res. Between 1951 and 1969, he collaborated with master glass artist Max Ingrand on numerous stained-glass projects, including works in Blois, Amboise, Rouen, and Saint-Malo.\n\nA pivotal moment came in 1961 when Gourmelin met writer Jacques Sternberg, who encouraged him to prioritize \u201cideas\u201d over form. This led to publications in Plan\u00e8te and various anthologies. His first solo exhibition took place in Paris in 1967, and by 1968, he left stained glass work to focus entirely on drawing.\n\nFrom the 1970s, Gourmelin gained international fame through exhibitions and publications, including works such as Instants d\u2019espace and \u00c0 la M\u00e9moire de l\u2019humanit\u00e9. His style evolved from dark humor and absurdity to a more philosophical and metaphysical approach.\n\nBy 2000, Gourmelin was forced to stop drawing due to an eye condition. After several strokes, he was hospitalized in 2008 and passed away in 2011 in a nursing home in Meudon.","link":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/c\/artist-en-2\/jean-gourmelin-en\/","name":"Jean Gourmelin","slug":"jean-gourmelin-en","taxonomy":"product_cat","parent":1857,"meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat\/14702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/product_cat"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat\/1857"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/collection.galerie-gerdes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?product_cat=14702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}