Raoul Ubac French artist of Belgian origin Date of Birth: 31.08.1910 Country: France

Biography of Raoul Ubac

Raoul Ubac was a French artist of Belgian origin, known for his versatility in working with different materials. He was born in Malmedy, Belgium, and came from a family engaged in the leather industry. His father was a renowned judge. Ubac studied in Belgium and later embarked on a journey across Europe, making a significant stop in Paris in 1928.

Initially, Ubac planned to study literature and enrolled at Sorbonne for this purpose. However, he changed his plans and joined the Art Academy of Montparnasse, where he began establishing connections with French surrealists. He developed a strong affinity for surrealism in photography. After completing his studies at the School of Applied Arts in Cologne, Ubac gradually shifted away from drawing.

In the early 1930s, Ubac became interested in lithography and engravings, finding some elements of these mediums quite similar to photography. In 1936, he embarked on a photography project called "Struggle of Penthesilea," experimenting with unconventional techniques such as combining negatives, manipulating exposure and lighting to achieve impressive effects. These effects later influenced his transition to more abstract and lyrical works.

In 1940, Ubac collaborated with Rene Magritte on a project called "Collective Invention." His last photography exhibition took place in 1941, around the same time he met poet Jean Lescure. Ubac gradually moved away from surrealism, focusing on drawing ordinary objects and adopting more realistic stylistic approaches after World War II.

In 1945, Ubac abandoned photography and introduced a new innovative project in 1946, combining sculpture and engraving on chalkboard. He continued to experiment at the intersection of different genres, achieving considerable success. He also engaged in classical drawing, exhibiting his new engravings and canvases regularly at the Aimé Maeght Gallery from 1951.

Ubac approached his art with incredible devotion and a nearly religious seriousness. Interestingly, his style began to simplify over time. In the 1960s, he worked on paintings for billboards, frescoes, and stained glass windows. He created several impressive stained glass windows and mosaics for various French churches. Ubac also explored tapestries as a new medium in the 1960s. His illustrations for books, including paintings, engravings, and lithographs, adorned the works of successful authors such as André Frénaud, Yves Bonnefoy, Christian Dotremont, Lucien Scheler, Claude Esteban, and Jacques Dupin.

Ubac's works were frequently exhibited in museums across France and Europe. He passed away in Dieudonné, France, in 1985.