Jean Fautrier was born in Paris in 1898. He studied at the Royal Academy
then Slade School
in London. Quickly
disappointed by the teaching given in these schools, Fautrier decided to take a
workshop and to work alone. He was then considered as the pioneer of Art Informel movement. In 1928, Fautier
met André Malraux and the Gallimard editions required him to illustrate a text
poetic, Fautrier choosed "the hell" of Dante, and carried out 34
lithographs in colours. Between 1942 and 1945, it is the beginning of a long
collaboration with George Blaizot, Fautrier is impassioned for the prints and
carried out many illustrated books for the Parisian publisher. It is at that
time that Fautrier painted the Otages.
Between 1949 and 1953, Fautrier used a process,
half print half painting which he will call "originaux multiples"
which will be exhibited in Paris and New York. In 1960,
Fautrier received the international price of painting to the Biennial of
Venice. Fautrier died on July 23, 1964 in Châtenay-Malabry.