Jean-Michel Atlan was born on January 23 1913 in Constantine, Algeria, and moved to Paris in 1930. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and wrote surrealistic poems.

He started as a self taught painter in 1941. He was arrested for being Jewish and for his political activism in 1942. He pleaded insanity and was confined to the Sainte Anne asylum.
In 1946 he met Asger Jorn and got involved with the CoBrA art group. In 1955 he exhibited in the Carpenter gallery. His works are marked with abrupt structures with dark and bright colors.

He died in Paris on February 12 1960 from a cancer.

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