Solange Bertrand was a French abstract painter, sculptor, and engraver.

Early life and education

Born in Montigny-lès-Metz

Montigny-lès-Metz

Montigny-lès-Metz is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the largest suburb of the city of Metz, and is adjacent to it on the west.-External links:*...

, Bertrand studied art for four years to the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, and then attended the Beaux–Arts in Paris

École des Beaux-Arts

École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...

. During the Second World War she was registered asa volunteer nurse, and was successively assigned to different posts (army, youth camps, children retreated from bombed areas, repatriation of deportees and prisoners).

Art career

At the beginning of her career, Bertrand painted in an expressionist way, but, later evolved into what can be described as relative abstraction. Bertrand during her long career mixed all manners of painting, jumbling styles and periods and paying only a little attention to dates. In the immediate post war period, she organized exhibitions regularly (Salon d'Automne, Salon de Mai, Comparaison, Salon Women Painters and Sculptors). Her first solo exhibition was organized at the Paris's Galerie Pascaud in 1947. For the artist many other single person exhibitions followed, mostly in Paris and Metz

Metz

Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...

, but also in the other French departments and abroad (i.e. Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, etc...). Bertrand gained several honours, including gaining the title of Master Academician in 1985. On May 2005, a sale of 108 of her works achieved success at the Hôtel Drouot

Hôtel Drouot

Hôtel Drouot is a large auction house in Paris, known for fine art, antiques, and antiquities. It consists of 16 halls hosting 70 independent auction firms, which operate under the umbrella grouping of Drouot....

Her work is today in public collections (Museums of Metz

Museums of Metz

The Museums of Metz , in Metz, France, were founded in 1839. They are also known as the Golden Courtyard Museums, in reference to the palace of Austrasia's kings in Metz, whose buildings they occupy...

, Nancy, Picasso Museum in Antibes, Chéret Museum in Nice, etc...), as well as many private collections. Bertrand died on January 22 of 2011 at the age of 97.

Solange Bertrand foundation

In 2001, Lionel Jospin

Lionel Jospin

Lionel Jospin is a French politician, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.Jospin was the Socialist Party candidate for President of France in the elections of 1995 and 2002. He was narrowly defeated in the final runoff election by Jacques Chirac in 1995...

, then Prime Minister of France

Prime Minister of France

The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...

, recognized by decree as a public interest the creation of the Solange Bertrand Foundation, preserving and exhibiting artworks of the artist. Bertrand donated to the foundation 303 paintings, 700 drawings, and 49 sculptures, which represent the evolution of her art production throughout her career.