Francois Fiedler Biography
François Fiedler was born in Kassa in 1921. He began at a young age painting academic portraits and copying the great masters of the past. After his university studies he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest. At the age of 25, in 1946, François Fiedler moved to Paris. It is in this immediate post-war period that his work evolves towards abstraction; he practices gestural painting in 'coulages'. His first personal exhibitions were immediately organised. He also participates in group exhibitions such as the "Salon des Realities Nouvelles" and the "Salon de Mai". His friend Joan Mirò introduces him to Aime Maeght; also in Braque and Calder, following the example of Tapies, Ubac and Tal-Coat, he becomes one of the artists in the circle that gravitates towards the famous gallery owner. From now on this will ensure him numerous exhibitions. From 1959 to 1974, four issues of the magazine Derriere le Mirror were entirely dedicated to him.
In addition to painting, which will remain his main means of expression, Fiedler will experiment with etching for several years. Sealing his fate, he achieves an original style, a relief that will add a particular "dramatic" intensity to his work. The magical alchemy that arises from his engraving is allied to an extremely rigorous aesthetic approach that nourishes Fiedler and testifies to his questioning. This becomes the starting point of a reflection on the singular and the multiple, on the notion of identity, fundamental to his work. During these different periods, Fiedler plays with the unusualness of his style. The artist illustrates several works such as Saint John of the Cross, Hercules and Claude Ollier. Fielder worked for more than 2 years on 35 etchings for the Illustrations of the Evangeline according to Saint Matthew, but the publication of this work was compromised by the death of Aimé Maeght in 1981. François Fielder remained unknown despite the importance of his work.
