Lucienne Florentin ou les ambivalences d’une critique d’art en Suisse romande

Lucienne Florentin, art critic in french-speaking Switzerland. Since the beginning of her career as an art critic in french-speaking Switzerland, Lucienne Florentin was, from 1910 to 1940, set against the modern french artistic trends (e. g. cubism, dadaism, surrealism) , thus seeking to undermine Paris artistic supremacy. She also rejected the Stijl movement, Kandinsky, and the Bauhaus. On the other hand, she stood up for Alexandre Blanchet, the artist, and the French-speaking swiss painters, nurtured on traditions. She was also a fervent defender of « Young Italy »’s fascist painting. In contact with Alberto Satoris, she took up architecture and decorative art criticism. She then demonstrated a great open-mindedness in choosing to advocate Le Corbusier and in siding with the theories of L’Esprit Nouveau. During the years of crisis, Lucienne Florentin reverted to her positions in favour of a modern classicism. All things considered, her criticism is characterized by a deep ambivalence.