Jean Criton

Jean Criton (1930–2022) was a French painter and draughtsman, widely recognized as a leading figure in the narrative figuration movement in France. He began his artistic career in 1947 after studying at the Académie Charpentier and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. From 1955, his works were regularly exhibited in Parisian galleries through art dealer Paul Antonini. In 1961, inspired by the work of Francis Bacon, Criton returned to figurative painting with a renewed focus on the human form. That same year, he was invited by renowned French art critic Pierre Restany to participate in the second Paris Biennale, where he was awarded the Grand Prize two years later.

Throughout his career, Criton engaged with a wide range of modernist influences, including Fauvism, Cubism, and Art Informel. His work is noted for its expressive intensity and experimental use of materials such as acrylic, charcoal, ink, water, and rubber. His pieces are held in major public collections, including the Fonds national d’art contemporain and the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.