Louis-René Berge
1927 † 2013
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Louis-René Berge was born on August 5th, 1927 in Cauderan (Gironde).
He began engraving as a self-taught artist in 1960 with the encouragement of Jacques Villon (1875-1963). Noticed by Pierre Guastalla (1891-1968), he attends the Salon de la Jeune gravure contemporaine in 1964 as a guest. After an interruption of ten years during which he creates an advertising company, he decides to devote himself definitively to engraving, being particularly interested in the technique of the burin.
From 1975 to 2005, he regularly exhibits at the Biren Gallery in Paris as well as in the main French art fairs: Réalités Nouvelles, Gravure contemporaine, Salon de Mai, Salon d'Automne and in engraving associations. He also participates in exhibitions abroad (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, United States, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Ukraine...). He was the author of several books and artists' books, some of which were collaborations, with the poet Bernard Vargaftig as well as with the writer Claude Louis-Combet.
In 2002, Louis-René Berge received the Taylor Foundation Burin Prize.
His engraved work includes more than 330 burin engravings.
He was elected Member of the French Academy of Beaux-Arts in November 2005, in the Engraving section, on Raymond Corbin's seat (n°3).
Louis-René Berge died on February 13th, 2013 in Paris at the age of 85.
A catalogue of his engraved work was published in 1995 with a preface by Claude Louis-Combet. A continuation of the catalogue is in preparation for the period 1995-2005.
BIBLIOGRAPHY - BIBLIOPHILY
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Louis-René Berge has produced three bibliophilic publications with the poet Bernard Vargaftig
2005: The Enigma is never denied, with the poet Bernard Vargaftig
2003: Interior Geography, with the writer Claude-Louis Combet
2002: Let the enigma stand out, with the poet Bernard Vargaftig
1993: Fragment of breath, with the poet Bernard Vargaftig
He has also published L'Amour des villes, l'amour des champs by Editions Luc Moreau and La gravure en taille douce, paroles de graveurs by Editions Dessain & Tolra.