Roger Bissiere – Composition Verte, Rouge, Noire
“Composition Vert, Rouge, Noire” (Composition in Green, Red and Black) Original Signed Aquatint Etching
This lithograph by Roger Bissière exemplifies his mature abstract style, featuring a dynamic interplay of red, black, and yellow forms. The composition reflects Bissière’s exploration of color and form, characteristic of his contributions to mid-20th-century French abstraction. The work is titled “Composition Vert, Rouge, Noir” in pencil on the back.
Dimensions: Platemark size 13 X 18 inches (Approx: 22 X 46 cm) – Sheet size 19.5 X 25.5 inches (Approx: 49 X 64 cm)
Signature: Signed in pencil lower right. Numbered 80/80
Engraved by Fiorini (“Fiorini Sculpt) in the plate.
Condition: The image is clear and bright. There are two pronounced tape stains in the upper right and upper left hand corners (well outside the image). They can be seen as the yellow spots on the outer upper portions of the second image. (See below)
22 September 1886 – 2 December 1964
Photo Christ-schmitt
Roger Bissière was a French painter and teacher associated with the Nouvelle École de Paris and is recognized as a major figure in modern French painting.
Born at Villereal, Lot-et-Garonne on September 22, 1886, the son of a notary, he started his career as a journalist, writing art reviews for the Parisian weekly “L’Opinion.” He began exhibiting paintings in a cubist style around 1918, and in 1920 wrote the preface to a book on Georges Braque, the first monograph on that artist.
Initially influenced by Cubism, his work evolved toward lyrical abstraction, emphasizing color, structure, and spiritual resonance. Bissière taught at the Académie Ranson and was instrumental in the development of non-figurative art in post-war France. His compositions — with their bold forms and harmonious palettes — resonate strongly with the aesthetics of mid-century modern design. Bissière’s legacy includes stained glass windows for Metz Cathedral and participation in major international exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta.
Roger Bissiere’s son, Marc-Antoine Bissiere, also became a well-known painter and graphic artist, who worked under the pseudonym Louttre B.
