Yllam

1944–1947

“Les Fausses Routes”: searching without a style of his own

In 1944 Vasarely takes up painting and for three years experiments with cubist, futurist, expressionist, symbolist and surrealist manners without developing a style of his own; afterwards he says he was “on the wrong track”.

1946–1947

First shows at Denise René and René Breteau

In 1946 Vasarely exhibits at the gallery of Denise René and in 1947 at the gallery of René Breteau; Jacques Prévert, who writes the introduction to the catalogue, places him among the surrealists and coins the term “imaginaires” (images + noir, black) for the paintings.

1947

Belle Île: pebbles and shells inspire a series

Ellipsoid pebbles and shells found during a vacation in 1947 on the Breton coast at Belle Île inspire the “Belle-Île” works, built on round and ellipsoid forms.

from 1948

Spends summers in Gordes from 1948

From 1948 Vasarely usually spends his summer months in Gordes in Provence; the village's cubic houses lead him to the “Gordes/Cristal” works, which tackle empty and filled space, perspective and volume.

1951

The “Denfert” period: the white tiles of the metro

“Denfert” refers to the works influenced by the white tiled walls of the Paris metro station Denfert–Rochereau.

1951–1955

“Le Mouvement” at the Denise René gallery

Kinetic art flourishes: works by Vasarely, Calder, Duchamp, Man Ray, Soto and Tinguely are exhibited at the Denise René gallery under the title “Le Mouvement”.