ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Figuration Libre

Figuration libre is a type of art where artists use bright colors and bold shapes to make expressive and playful paintings. It's like when you use crayons to draw pictures of things you love, but instead of staying inside the lines, you draw whatever you want in whatever colors you like.

The artists who make figuration libre paintings often use images from popular culture, like cartoon characters or icons from movies and TV shows, and they put them together in new and unexpected ways. It's like making a collage, but on a canvas instead of with paper.

The name "figuration libre" comes from French words that mean "free form" or "free style." This means that the artists don't have to follow any rules or techniques when they create their art. They can let their imaginations run wild and make whatever they want.

Figuration libre art was popular in the 1980s, when many artists wanted to break away from more traditional styles of art. They wanted to make art that was fun, joyful, and accessible to everyone, and figuration libre was the perfect way to do it.

So, if you see a bright and playful painting with crazy shapes and colors that make you smile, chances are it's a figuration libre work of art!