Julio & Roberta González : Une amitié avec les Zervos au cœur de l'art moderne

Exhibition at the Musée Zervos, Vézelay, 13 July – 15 November 2024

This exhibition catalogue traces the relationship between Julio (1876–1942) González and his daughter Roberta (1909–1976) with Christian and Yvonne Zervos, iconic figures of the Parisian avant-garde, and their prestigious magazine and gallery, ‘Cahiers d’art’.

It highlights how Julio González’s revolutionary sculpture was promoted by ‘Cahiers d’art’, placing it within the context of the ‘Spanish School of Paris’ through works by artists such as Francisco Bores, Pancho Cossio, Ismael González del a Serna, Luis Fernández and, of course, Pablo Picasso.

The book also focuses on Roberta González’s artistic development, from her cubo-surrealist works of the late 1930s – heavily influenced by her father – to her dynamic and colourful mature paintings of the 1950s and 1960s. It draws attention to the personal and artistic ties between Roberta and the Zervos, particularly Yvonne. A series of portraits of Yvonne painted by Roberta during a stay in Vézelay in the summer of 1952 bears witness to their friendship and shared artistic sensibilities.