Galerie Catherine Issert

Preface by Jean de Loisy
Contributions by Jean-Louis Prat, Dominique Païni, Jennifer Flay, Bernard Marcadé, Maurice Fréchuret

After working for Jean Fournier and the Maeght Foundation in the early 1970s, Catherine Issert opened her own gallery in her native village in the south of France, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a place marked by frequent visits from modern artists (Picasso, Fernand Léger, etc.) and the proximity of avant-garde centers (Bernar Venet, Yves Klein, Ben, etc.). Catherine Issert championed a bold approach to art that made her a pioneer and a valuable witness to the upheavals in 20th-century art history, supporting artists working in conceptual art (J. Armleder), Land art (P. Hutchinson), free figuration (J.-C. Blais), and Arte Povera (P.P. Calzolari).

This book shares the irreverence, humor, and intelligence that characterize this gallery as much as the proposals it has put forward, mixing minor and major history, thanks to the numerous reproductions of photographs of openings, fair stands, off-site exhibitions, and works that constitute the gallery's memory. This visual flow allows the reader to wander through the gallery space and its history, following the chronology of more than 450 exhibitions presented to the public over 50 years.

Numerous texts punctuate this photo album. From Catherine Issert's account of the gallery's life to Jean de Loisy's preface reflecting on his perception of the gallery's role over the last 50 years, as well as the perspectives of Catherine Issert's close friends, these texts reflect the diversity of the gallery's activities and its longevity.

Three invitation cards from historic exhibitions (Armleder, Blais, and Traquandi), reproduced in their original format, will be inserted into each book like vintage souvenir photos.

A multifaceted object to read, look at, and touch.