THE LIFE OF ANDRÉ EVARD
André Evard (1876-1972) is an important artist of Swiss Modernism. He is considered a pioneer of this movement, as he produced abstract-constructive works very early on.
However, his significance in art history largely remains unknown, as the Swiss artist refused to engage with the art market throughout his life and therefore never collaborated with a gallerist who could have presented his works to the public. As a result, André Evard’s importance for the development of the Swiss avant-garde increasingly fell into oblivion, and he did not receive the recognition he deserved. He remained a loner throughout his life, developing from the outset an independent visual language and a specific perspective, which is also reflected in his works.
Hundreds of oil paintings, a large number of drawings, and approximately 2000 to 3000 watercolors and gouaches were created during his lifetime.
Curriculum Vitae
1876
Born in Renan, near La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland)
1879
Moves with his mother to the watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) after his father’s death
1903
Appointed to the Cultural Advisory Board of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Opens the “Maison d’Art” together with Charles Lauper. They distribute artisanal products in the Art Nouveau style.
1904 – 1906
Attends evening classes at the local School of Applied Arts, “Ecole d’Art”
1906 – 1909
Master student of Charles L’Eplattenier, the founder of the “style sapin,” a distinctive form of Swiss Art Nouveau. Evard’s fellow students include Le Corbusier (with whom he painted various private villas), as well as Georges Aubert, Octave Matthey, and Léon Perrin.
1907
Evard, Le Corbusier, and Perrin undertake a study trip to Italy
1908
First collages and enamel works are created
1913
First geometric-abstract compositions with Cubist features emerge
1923 – 1927
Lives and works in Paris. Evard exhibits, among others, at the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Indépendants. Meets Braque, Delaunay, Léger, Mondrian. Theo van Doesburg seeks to recruit Evard to collaborate with the “De Stijl” group.
1924 – 1926
Numerous constructive works are created.
1936
Participation in the Zurich exhibition “Contemporary Issues in Swiss Painting and Sculpture”
1937
Evard becomes a member of the newly founded artist group “Allianz”
1951
Retrospective at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in La Chaux-de-Fonds
1972
Death in Le Locle (Switzerland)