Jean-Michel Atlan

1913 - 1960 / French

Jean Atlan was relatively unknown in 1947 when he collaborated on the Ascher Squares project. As a Jew he had suffered through great hardship during the occupation of France. In 1942 he had been confined to a mental hospital where he feigned illness in order to avoid persecution. His work with its abstract composition, defining black lines, and blocks of bright color is particularly well suited for a silk square.

Feliks Topolski Christian Bérard