Tête d'otage 1944

"Tête d'otage," painted in 1944 by Jean Fautrier, is a striking example of the artist's "Otages" series. Created during the Nazi occupation of France, the artwork embodies the turmoil and despair of the time. The thick, textured surface, reminiscent of rough plaster or concrete, evokes a sense of imprisonment and raw emotion. The central form, resembling a head, is rendered in muted browns, oranges, and blues, suggesting a hidden face and a veiled identity, symbolizing the silenced and vulnerable victims of the war.