ANDRE OSTIER| INTIME
From November 6th to December 2nd, 2023 | Paris – France
On the initiative of François de Ricqlès and Jacques Lacoste, and on the occasion of Paris Photo 2023, the gallery located at 19 Avenue Matignon will host an exhibition from November 6 to December 2 dedicated to the photographer André Ostier (1906-1994).
Presenting 37 silver prints, the exhibition will provide an opportunity to rediscover an elegant and still relatively unknown body of work showcasing artists, fashion designers and social circles of the mid-20th century. In addition, this is the first time that such a col- lection of photographs is presented for sale – an exceptional opportunity involving one of the great photographers of that period.
An esthete and a worldly man, André Ostier was recognized in his time for the refinement of his work as a portraitist, for his ability to capture the grace and originality of the collections of major fashion houses, and for his photographs of postwar balls, dazzling with luxury and creativity.
The ultimate Proustian figure, “distant, discreet and accurate,” in the words of Pierre Bergé, André Ostier was the loyal friend of Christian Dior, Max Jacob, Marcel Achard, Marc Chagall and Leonor Fini. Though he devoted his attention only to those he admired, most of the major artists and fashion designers of the time were the focus of his medium-format camera.
Thanks to the richness of the photographer’s personal archives and the invaluable support of the Association des Amis André Ostier, the works on display will help give a better sense of the talents of an artist man who once said, somewhat mischievously: “I find that in a photograph, there has to be an instant that extends beyond the image.” The exhibition echoes this motto, which evokes both the artist’s intentions and the nature of the photographic medium.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue, conceived by François Cam-Drouhin, photography specialist.
The artists and fashion designers whose portraits will be featured in the exhibition include, among others:
Artists: Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Cocteau, Jacques Prévert, Christian Bérard, and Leonor Fini.
Fashion designers: Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Gabrielle Chanel, and Jacques Fath.