Peintures à vendre N°8 Jacques Monory

Jacques Monory’s "Peintures à vendre" (Paintings for Sale) series holds a singular place in his body of work. Produced from the 1960s onwards, it is firmly rooted in the Narrative Figuration movement, of which Monory is a leading figure. Through these canvases, the artist subverts the codes of commercial advertising and shop displays to question the commodification of art and the gaze directed at the image.

Often dominated by his famous blue palette, the "Peintures à vendre" combine photographic imagery, text fragments, and frontal compositions. The inscription "à vendre" (for sale) acts as an ambiguous signal: simultaneously an ironic statement and a detached critique of the art system, it confronts the spectator with their own role as a viewer, or even a potential buyer.

With this series, Jacques Monory transforms the act of selling into a pictorial subject in its own right. The work becomes a space of tension between desire, latent violence, and media coldness—recurring themes for the artist. "Peintures à vendre" thus powerfully illustrates Monory’s ability to blend narration, critical engagement, and visual impact.