Fondation Maeght
France's first independent art foundation, founded through a deep friendship between artists and a gallery owner
Fondation Maeght, located in Saint-Paul de Vence in the south of France, can be seen as the cradle of 20th-century modern art in all its forms. The foundation’s collection is truly impressive, featuring works by renowned artists such as Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Fernand Léger, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque, and more. The foundation is the result of a close friendship between these artists and gallery owner Aimé Maeght and his wife Marguerite.
The lives of Aimé Maeght and Marguerite Devaye revolved entirely around art and supporting artists. With a degree in lithography, Aimé Maeght opened a shop and printing house called "Arte" in Cannes in 1932. He displayed paintings in the shop’s window, and the business quickly blossomed into a full-fledged gallery, thanks in part to commissions and exhibitions from artists like Pierre Bonnard.
During World War II, the couple went into hiding in Vence, where they became friends with Henri Matisse. Encouraged by Bonnard and Matisse, the couple opened "Galerie Maeght" in Paris in 1945. The gallery's first exhibition featured paintings by Matisse created during the war. A meeting with Marcel Duchamp led to the gallery's first surrealist exhibition. From that point on, the circle of artists represented by Galerie Maeght grew rapidly. The couple welcomed both internationally recognized artists and emerging talents, fostering friendships and creating a vibrant artistic community.
In 1953, the couple was struck by tragedy with the death of their son Bernard, leading them to retreat to their home in Saint-Paul de Vence. However, they were encouraged by their friends, artists Braque, Miró, and Léger, to turn their grief into a positive endeavor. This led to the idea of creating a place where modern art could be exhibited under ideal conditions, and where artists could gather. The couple enlisted Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert for the project after seeing the studio he had designed for Miró. The Mediterranean light was intelligently captured, and the building was in harmony with its surroundings.
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The design of the Fondation Maeght was determined by its location. Thanks to the abundance of trees, the building was not made taller than a mature pine tree, ensuring constant shade. Saint-Paul de Vence also served as inspiration for Sert. The layout of the foundation was based on that of a traditional medieval settlement village. A walled sculpture garden serves as the entrance to the art complex. Pierre Tal-Coat placed a mosaic painting, fifty meters long, on the wall. As you walk through the garden, various sculptures can be discovered. Two black-and-white spheres of Takis' wind sculpture rotate over the garden according to the rhythm of the wind. Eduardo Chillida's granite cube, made of three overlapping stones, challenges the force of gravity despite the use of solid material. One cannot overlook the monumental work ‘Les Renforts’ by Alexander Calder, which stands nearly six meters high. The ground-anchored works of Calder are called ‘stabiles’, in contrast to his mobile sculptures for which he became famous. However, whether in stabiles or mobiles, the tension between movement and stillness or between earth and air remains Calder's central theme. Bronze and colorful sculptures by Miró offer a preview of his open-air studio further ahead.
Like every fortress, the Fondation Maeght also has its chapel, located at the side of the sculpture garden. In the rebuilt chapel dedicated to St. Bernard, the stained-glass windows were designed by Georges Braque and Raoul Ubac. After the sculpture garden, several buildings are situated around courtyards, patios, and terraces, resembling a Mediterranean village. Immediately noticeable are Sert's characteristic undulating roof structures made of white concrete. These break up the rigid geometry of the buildings and are crucial for capturing the intense Mediterranean light. The main building with the exhibition spaces is a square block made of white concrete with brick surfaces. On the roof, two monumental half-vaults of white concrete are inverted, looking like half circles toward the sky. In addition to large shading screens, these so-called ‘impulvia’ collect rainwater to supply the water features of the complex. The roofs of the other buildings also display the undulating roof pattern, albeit in a slightly more modest form. White concrete quarter-vaults with glass sections in the vertical, non-undulating part provide daylight in these rooms.
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The foundation was not only shaped by Sert. The couple’s artist friends also contributed their creations to both the buildings and the garden. From 1963 to 1973, Miró created his ‘Labyrinthe’ in the garden of the estate. For this maze, Miró worked closely with ceramicists Josep Llorens Artigas and Joan Gardy Artigas. The result is a mythological place with surreal figures from Miró's imagination, made from a variety of materials: ceramics, Carrara marble, iron, bronze, and concrete. The thread of Ariadne, a white painted line that winds its way along the walls, guides you through the labyrinth. Miró’s fantastical world adds an extra dimension to the nature and architecture of the site. Additionally, Miró designed a large blue stained-glass window for one of the exhibition halls in the main building.
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Sculptor Alberto Giacometti took charge of the courtyard. Three emaciated and elongated figures, Giacometti’s signature style, form a permanent composition in the square: ‘Homme qui marche’, ‘Femme debout’, and ‘Grande tête’. The fragility of his sculptures evokes an existential unease. Furthermore, Fondation Maeght houses one of the largest collections of Giacometti’s works worldwide, with thirty-five sculptures and thirty drawings. Also, Marc Chagall's mosaic mural ‘Les Amoureux’ can be found on the wall of the bookstore. The work is dedicated to the Maeght couple and depicts the founders welcoming visitors. This mosaic is Chagall's first creation using this material. Additionally, there is Braque’s swimming pool, made of blue mosaics featuring images of fish. Due to the blue color, the sky seems to constantly reflect in the pool.
Through the unique collaboration of the gallery owners, architect, and artists, Fondation Maeght has become a remarkable place that breathes art. Its cultural heritage is preserved while also serving as a platform for contemporary artists, as the founders had intended.
The current exhibition at Fondation Maeght, "Au cœur de l’abstraction," runs until 20/11/2022.
Take a look at the website for upcoming exhibitions and visiting times: Fondation Maeght
623 Chemin des Gardettes, 06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
Photos (c) Cultuurtoerist.