Sculptural Impasto: Set of 3 Abstract Figurative Paintings by Max Roumieu

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Set of three powerful mixed-media works by Max Roumieu exemplify late 20th-century Materic Art—a form of abstract expressionism defined by … Read more Set of three powerful mixed-media works by Max Roumieu exemplify late 20th-century Materic Art—a form of abstract expressionism defined by the physicality of paint and texture.

Roumieu, active during the 1980s, produced a limited body of highly tactile paintings and sculptural canvases that blur the line between painting and relief sculpture. The pieces feature a deeply textured surface built through heavy impasto—likely resin or sand-infused paste—applied with a palette knife to create dramatic peaks and valleys.

Set against a smooth, color-field background of rich earth tones and illuminated by a striking beam of light, the compositions evoke both geological depth and emotional intensity. The abstract forms seem to emerge or struggle from the surface, creating a powerful tension between material and meaning.

Roumieu’s works are known for their theatrical presence and sculptural dimension, embodying the late 20th-century fascination with matter, light, and existential abstraction.


1) Upper left: Signed lower left, 1982 - untitled. 25.75" W x 30" H x 2" D

2) Upper right: Signed lower left, 1982 - titled on verso "Ours Blanc". 25.5" W x 21.5" H x 1" D

3) Lower center: Signed lower left, 1981 - titled on verso "Composition I, PARIS (FRANCE). 31" W x 25.75" H x 1.25" D See less