Aubusson XVI-XXI

An overview of six centuries of Aubusson tapestries

During the year 2015 the Museum of tapestry proposes, in the Centre culturel Jean-Lurçat, the exhibition « Aubusson XVI-XXI », as an anticipation exhibition of the future Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson (opening in July 2016). Like a time travel experience, the exhibition offers an overview of the production of tapestries in Aubusson, to trace the history of this centuries-long know-how, from the XVI^th century to nowadays.

After the principles of the know-hows of Aubusson (inscribed by UNESCO on the Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2009), like weaving on the basse lisse loom or creating thousands of colors with three primary colors to dye wool, you will discover the green landscapes («verdures») of the XVIth century and their fantastic animals, the historical and mythological sagas of the XVII^th century, the carpets and models of furniture of the XIX^th century. The artworks of the great masters of the XX^th century describe the two artistic trends : the cartoon painters (Jean Lurçat, Dom Robert...) and the tapestries after painters (Braque, Vasarely, Le Corbusier...).

Cartoon painters and tapestries after painters

In the the XX^th century, Jean Lurçat and his followers are called « cartoon-painters »: their creations are specifically meant to become tapestries. The full size artworks are designed to be woven with wool, observing all the technical constraints of the low-warp loom weaving.

At the instigation of Jean Lurçat, renowned artists get interested in tapestry, mostly through great Parisian art galleries such as La Demeure (Denise Majorel gallery) or the Gallery Denise René: Georges Braque, Victor Vasarely, Fernand Léger, Le Corbusier... These artists stay painters: contrary to the cartoon painters, their mock-ups have to get in the hands of an adapter, a technical project manager for the future tapestry. 

The contemporary revival in the spotlight

The last room of the museum is dedicated to the artworks produced through the Regional Fund for the Creation of Contemporary Tapestries, from the mock-ups awarded during the annual calls for projects of the Cité – including the emblematic first prize Peau de licorne in 2010. Presenting the artists’ mock-ups and the weavings when they are just «fallen» from the loom, this room is constantly on the move, depending on the exhibitions for which the artwork laureates travel all over the world, and with the progresses of the ongoing weavings.