thesis

Jossot et l'épure décorative (1866-1951) : caricature entre anarchisme et Islam

Defense date:

Jan. 1, 2005

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Institution:

Paris, EHESS

Disciplines:

Art history and archeology

Authors:

Directors:

Abstract EN:

Decorative diagram in the Third Republic press is linked to decorum of ugliness. Jossot's caricatural arabesques flouted social proprieties : against the Academy, it took inspiration from medieval art, parodied symbolist grace, nabis' japanism, cloisonism, joined fauvism and belonged to Modern Style. His vision was caught by caricature and he tried to escape from a terrific view : he saw, wrote and painted through his caricatural schema. Close from individualist anarchism, he tried to run away from a political world conceived in terms of domination and binary oppositions. Tunisia appeared him as an aesthetic and exotic refuge protected by anti-colonialists caricatures. Tunisia appeared him as an aesthetic and exotic refuge protected by anti-colonialists caricatures. Converted and initiated to Suffism, the "free thought of Islam" replaced caricature making him conspicuous. However Jossot threw up his burnous around 1927 and died atheist, likening the life to the "hectic" world of caricature.

Abstract FR:

L'épure décorative dans la presse de la Troisième République, est liée au decorum du laid. Chez Jossot, l'arabesque caricaturale bafoue les convenances : contre l'Académie, elle puise dans l'art médiéval, parodie les grâces symbolistes, la japonisme des Nabis, le cloisonnisme, rencontre le fauvisme et appartient à l'Art Nouveau. Le regard confisqué par la caricature, l'artiste cherche à fuir une vision terrifiante : il voit, écrit et peint au travers de son schème caricatural. Proche de l'anarchisme individualiste, il fuit un monde politique conçu en terme de domination et d'oppositions binaires. La Tunisie devient un havre esthétique et exotique défendu par des charges anti-coloniales. Converti puis initié au soufisme, la "libre pensée de l'Islam" distingue son adepte et remplace ainsi la caricature. Dès 1927, Jossot quitte le burnous et meurt en athée, assimilant la vie au monde "agité" de la caricature.