Skip to main content
Items Similar to A Striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist Architectural Scene / Set Design
Ramon Enrich - AV NOVA by Ramon Enrich - Architecture and Landscape Painting
AV NOVA by Ramon Enrich - Architecture and Landscape Painting
Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) - 1950's French Large Post-Cubist Oil Painting Abstract Composition
1950's French Large Post-Cubist Oil Painting Abstract Composition
Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) - Post-Cubist French Oil Painting Mid 20th Century Interior Composition
Post-Cubist French Oil Painting Mid 20th Century Interior Composition
Leonard Maurer Painting, 1949
Leonard Maurer Painting, 1949
Stunning Modernist Architectural Rendering, Drawing by G.F.Hahn
Stunning Modernist Architectural Rendering, Drawing by G.F.Hahn
Richard Gosminski - Abstracted Buildings, Mid-Century Cleveland School Artist
Abstracted Buildings, Mid-Century Cleveland School Artist
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

Andre Delfau
A Striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist Architectural Scene / Set Design

Circa 1950

$685
£517.88
€604.57
CA$974.72
A$988.68
CHF 564.56
MX$11,973.24
NOK 6,646.29
SEK 6,624.23
DKK 4,519.19

About the Item

A striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist architectural scene / set design by notable French stage, costume and fashion designer, Andre Delfau (1914-2000). Depicting the dramatic ramparts, archways and courtyard of a Medieval castle, the artwork is gouache on paper, dates circa 1950, and is completed in cool grays and tonal light blues. Artwork size: 13 x 17 inches, unframed, presented in an archival 4-ply mat measuring 20 x 24 inches (ready for frame). Estate stamped on reverse. Provenance: Estate of the artist. Delfau's set designs were often endered in the classical aesthetic tradition of a "Capriccio"- a theatrical or artistic style featuring fantastical, whimsical, and often irrational combinations of architectural elements, such as mixing classical ruins with grand, imaginary buildings. Rooted in 18th-century Italian vedutismo (view painting), it creates immersive, dramatic landscapes by manipulating perspective and scale, frequently used for opera or theatrical backdrops to evoke a sense of wonder and unreality. Born in Paris, France in 1914, Andre Delfau became an internationally acclaimed stage, set and costume designer who worked world-wide from the 1930s to the 1980s. Delfau was a life long artist and painted independently of his noted design career. His artwork is recognized for it’s vibrant color and form, and a particularly keen use of line. He was highly influenced by the French Modern trends of Cubism and Surrealism, and his artwork is often infused with a dramatic sense of architecture and perspective. Delfau created fashion designs for such major Paris couture houses as Balmain, Jean Patou and Balenciaga. He completed noteworthy set designs and costumes for numerous international operatic and ballet productions, including those at the Royal Danish Ballet, the Royal Ballet of Great Britain, the Paris Opera, the Dance Theater of Harlem, the Ruth Page International Ballet, the Civic Ballet of Chicago, the Chicago Opera Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others. Most notably, Delfau designed the elaborate stage sets and costumes for the 1986 PBS television production of the Viennese operetta, "Die Fledermaus". Delfau lived primarily in Paris and Chicago. He frequently traveled to the South of France, the Mediterranean coast and to Morocco. One of his favorite subjects to paint was the historic Jemaa el-Fna market in Marrakesh. Late in life, he married Chicago ballet impresario Ruth Page. Delfau died in Chicago in 2000. at the age of 86.
  • Creator:
    Andre Delfau (1914 - 2000, French)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1950
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 0.13 in (3.31 mm)
  • Medium:
    Paper,Gouache
  • Movement & Style:
    American Modern
  • Period:
    Mid-20th Century
  • Condition:
    Very good / fine, original estate condition. See photos.
  • Gallery Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: #57101stDibs: LU2591217617522

More From This Seller

View All
A Striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist Architectural Scene / Set Design

Andre DelfauA Striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist Architectural Scene / Set Design, 1951

A Striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist Architectural Scene / Set Design

By Andre Delfau

Located in Chicago, IL

A striking, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Surrealist architectural scene / set design by notable French stage, costume and fashion designer, Andre Delfau (1914-2000). Titled "Britannicus...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Interior Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

A 1959 Black & White, Mid-Century, Surrealist Abstraction by Desmond McLean

Desmond McLeanA 1959 Black & White, Mid-Century, Surrealist Abstraction by Desmond McLean, 1959

A 1959 Black & White, Mid-Century, Surrealist Abstraction by Desmond McLean

By Desmond McLean

Located in Chicago, IL

A 1959 black and white, Mid-Century, Surrealist watercolor on paper by artist Desmond McLean in a cerused black frame. Image size: 12" x 30". Framed size: 19 3/4" x 25 3/4". McL...

Category

1950s Surrealist Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

An Abstract, Surrealist 1950s Mid-Century Modern Interior Still Life Painting

Harold HaydonAn Abstract, Surrealist 1950s Mid-Century Modern Interior Still Life Painting, 1952

An Abstract, Surrealist 1950s Mid-Century Modern Interior Still Life Painting

By Harold Haydon

Located in Chicago, IL

A Visually Striking, early 1950s Abstract, Surrealist Mid-Century Modern Still Life Painting by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). Depicting a colorful interior ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Masonite

A Compelling, 1950s Mid-Century Modern City Nocturne, Street Scene, France

Andre DelfauA Compelling, 1950s Mid-Century Modern City Nocturne, Street Scene, France, circa 1950

A Compelling, 1950s Mid-Century Modern City Nocturne, Street Scene, France

By Andre Delfau

Located in Chicago, IL

A Compelling, 1950s Mid-Century Modern City Nocturne by Andre Delfau (Fr./Am. 1914-2000). Depicting a colorful city street scene at night showing a building facade of bright green s...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

A Compelling, Surrealist 1946 Mid-Century Modern Still Life by Harold Haydon

Harold HaydonA Compelling, Surrealist 1946 Mid-Century Modern Still Life by Harold Haydon, 1946

A Compelling, Surrealist 1946 Mid-Century Modern Still Life by Harold Haydon

By Harold Haydon

Located in Chicago, IL

A Compelling, Surrealist 1946 Mid-Century Modern Still Life Drawing by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). A visually striking, finely executed charcoal drawing o...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Interior Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

You May Also Like

Surrealist Painting By Charles Oscar American Circa 1956

Surrealist Painting By Charles Oscar American Circa 1956

Surrealist Painting By Charles Oscar American Circa 1956

By Charles Oscar

Located in Hudson, NY

A rare piece to be found. Due to his early demise the number of works available by this artist are limited. His work can be found in every major collection in the United States. He was a Guggenheim Fellow, Museum of Modern Art Curator and rising Futurist Artist who was murdered in his New York apartment in 1961 when he was only 38 years old. Titled "Hypnerotomachia", the name means 'the act of falling in love in a dream'. This amazing and rare piece was created just one year after his success with exhibiting at the Venice Biennale of 1956. Semi-abstract composition and very dream like. This painting retains the original carved and gilded Hydenryk frame and has been professionally cleaned and conserved. His work can be found in every major collection in the United States. Charles Oscar...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

1950's Modernist/ Cubist Painting - French Building

Bernard Labbe1950's Modernist/ Cubist Painting - French Building, 1950's

1950's Modernist/ Cubist Painting - French Building

By Bernard Labbe

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

French Landscape by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original gouache on thin card, unframed size: 19.5 x 25.5 inches condition: very good and ready to be enjoyed provenance:...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gouache

1950's French Modernist/ Cubist Painting - Wacky Interior Scene

Bernard Labbe1950's French Modernist/ Cubist Painting - Wacky Interior Scene, 1950's

1950's French Modernist/ Cubist Painting - Wacky Interior Scene

By Bernard Labbe

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Wacky Interior Scene by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original watercolour/ gouache painting on paper board, unframed size: 10 x 8.75 inches condition: very good and ready ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Interior Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Gouache

Metaphysical Painting by Roger Hullaert, Belgium, 1932-1988

Metaphysical Painting by Roger Hullaert, Belgium, 1932-1988

Metaphysical Painting by Roger Hullaert, Belgium, 1932-1988

By Roger Hullaert

Located in New York, NY

Painting in oil Signed R. Hullaert. Painted from an architectural perspective with a stairway leading into, the painting references a surrealist / metaphysical theme of accessing ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Paintings