le XXème salon de Mai 1964

Vivid, abstract, and resolutely modern, this original 1964 poster was created by Bram Van Velde for the 20th Salon de Mai, held at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. With its expressive brushwork and bold interplay of forms, this striking design exemplifies the gestural intensity and emotional tension that defined Van Velde’s unique position in post-war European art.

The composition swirls in a palette of deep black, steel grey, powder blue, and lilac — a chromatic storm centered around a circular void, suggesting both presence and absence. Van Velde, associated with the École de Paris and often linked to Abstract Expressionism and Existentialist thought, channels a sense of inner rupture and quiet defiance in this poster. His work was never easy, never decorative — and this visual for the Salon de Mai reflects that intellectual gravity.

First established during the Nazi Occupation as a resistance to fascist cultural suppression, the Salon de Mai became one of postwar France’s most important venues for avant-garde expression. This 20th edition marked two decades of progressive, often radical, contemporary creation.

More than a simple exhibition poster, this piece stands as a declaration of modernity — a testament to both the artist’s singular vision and the Salon’s enduring legacy. Van Velde’s contribution turns what could have been mere promotional material into a collectible fragment of mid-century artistic history.

Exposition - Abstrait

Musée d'art moderne de la ville de Paris

Printed by Mourlot

Très bon état