Value and quotation of works, paintings, drawings by Robert Combas

If you own a work by or about the artist Robert Combas, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can offer you their expert appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.

Then, if you want to sell your work, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it. 

Artist's rating and value 

Robert Combas is a recognized artist of the 20th century. Today, prices for his works are rising under auctioneers' gavels.

His works are particularly prized by French buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €200 to €250,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to the works of Robert Combas.

In 2019, an acrylic on canvas sold for €300,000, whereas its estimate was between €30,000 and €250,000.

The artist's price is quite high, and varies according to the number of works on the auction market. 

Order of value for Robert Combas paintings (from the most basic to the most prestigious) 

Style and technique of the artist Robert Combas  

A French artist born in 1957, Robert Combas is the founder of the Figuration Libre movement, a movement born in reaction to the austerity of mainstream conceptual art.

As part of the artistic effervescence of the late 1970s, Figuration Libre relies on creative spontaneity and a return to popular forms of expression, such as comics, rock music and graffiti.

With his thick lines, vibrant colors and provocative humor, Combas defies convention.

His vibrant style, halfway between art brut and folk art, develops across a range of media and techniques, from canvas and ceramics to sheets and clothing, which he transforms into improvised canvases.

These varied experiments enable him to impose a recognizable visual language, populated by eccentric characters and teeming scenes, where the energy of the line and the profusion of details captivate the eye.

It's in his paintings and drawings, however, that he best reveals the essence of his universe, blending the triviality of everyday life with cultural references without hierarchy, to make a true "art for all", in the image of artists like Keith Haring or Louis Cane.

Robert Combas : artiste libre - Tracks

The life and career of Robert Combas 

Robert Combas, born in Montpellier in 1957, is the quintessential polymorphous contemporary artist. From an early age, he was passionate about art, developing his artistic sense between the world of comic strips and the influences of popular culture.

Fascinated by the dynamism of urban life and vibrant colors, Combas strives to create lively works that resonate with palpable energy.

In his quest for singular expression, Combas cultivates his iconographic universe with the same rigor as a craftsman shaping his materials.

He entered the Montpellier School of Fine Arts, where he discovered the power of color and the strength of line, opening the door to a style that would become his own.

To enrich his work and satisfy his insatiable curiosity, he drew inspiration from twentieth-century artists, while retaining his own approach, which he describes as a "period of free figuration".

He became a member of the "Figuration libre" movement, which advocated accessible, committed art, befriending artists such as Rémy Blanchard and Hervé di Rosa.

Abstraction was not an obvious choice from the start of his career, and he experimented with figurative works with a variety of influences, before finding his own way with painting in the late 1970s.

Shortly afterwards, he established himself on the art scene, marking his era with memorable exhibitions that showcased his flamboyant aesthetic.

In 1984, he received international recognition, notably at the Venice Biennale, where he presented his creations, asserting his place in the artistic hemicycle.

Without abandoning his primary inspirations, Combas continues to explore new artistic territories, while collaborating with renowned galleries that take his work beyond national borders.

A jack-of-all-trades, he takes on a variety of projects, from murals to monumental sculptures, constantly pushing the boundaries of his art.

Despite critics who describe him as "superficial", Combas forges an inimitable style, characterized by flat, bright colors and dynamic compositions, where joie de vivre expresses itself unreservedly.

Combas creates large-scale frescoes that illuminate public spaces, such as La Murale des Droits de l'Homme, a vibrant tribute to freedom of expression and humanity.

Those who see his work as mere entertainment are often amazed when, in 2019, he creates an iconic piece: Le Cri des Couleurs, which transcends art and invites reflection on contemporary socio-political issues.

Focus on Bataille 3910, Robert Combas, 1985

In 1985, Robert Combas created Bataille 3910, a work that bears witness to his unique style, characterized by visual explosiveness and a rich palette of colors.

Combas, an emblematic figure of the neo-expressionist movement, uses painting to explore a variety of themes, oscillating between celebration and violence, the playful and the tragic.

In this composition, Combas focuses on the intensity of emotions and the representation of the chaos that surrounds him. Vivid colors, mainly in shades of red, blue and yellow, intertwine in a frenetic dance, creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.

Each element of this work seems charged with palpable tension, reflecting the artist's instinctive approach to raw expression rather than formal precision.

The shapes, often caricatures, evoke a universe populated by human figures, animals and symbols, which seem to emerge from a tumultuous dream world.

Bataille 3910 also reveals Combas' ambition to capture the energy of contemporary life.

Breaking away from traditional conventions, he uses a personal iconography, where elements intermingle without hierarchy, forming a lively tableau where the cacophony of colors and shapes contributes to a unique visual narrative.

This work is both immediate and profound: immediate in its visual impact, profound in the multiple meanings it suggests through its chaotic interactions.

With Bataille 3910, Combas asserts his distinctive style, far removed from minimalism, where color and gesture are the main drivers of artistic expression. He creates a world where every detail counts, every color explodes, and disorder becomes an art form.

Bataille 3910 remains emblematic of the period when neo-expressionist art was reinventing itself, driven by artists like Robert Combas, who sought to transform perceptions and reinvent pictorial narratives.

L'Homme à la pipe, Robert Combas, 1985

This vibrant, narrative work by Robert Combas perfectly captures the playful spirit of his art. Man with a Pipe embodies the interplay between figuration and abstraction, revealing an imaginative dimension at the heart of his creative process.

Brushstrokes of palpable intensity intertwine and unfold in a play of vibrant colors, blending shades of blue, red and green.

These shimmering hues, which seem to vibrate from within, evoke an atmosphere of vivacity and joy. Here, Combas captures the very essence of a scene from life, as if the work were a reflection of a moment full of charm and enthusiasm.

The background, rich in pattern and texture, acts as a resonant space. It supports the effervescence of the colors, creating a depth that invites the viewer to immerse themselves.

This harmony of hues lends a lightness to the whole, as if the shapes were dancing in a colorful universe, where conventions dissipate.

The vibrant, dynamic colors seem to come alive on the canvas. Their joyful, fluid movement evokes an organic dynamic, like the breath of life that runs through the work.

Combas succeeds in freezing the intensity of a joyous moment in matter, offering the viewer an immersive visual experience.

Contrasts between bright hues and softer areas intensify this sense of movement.

This interplay between clarity and depth gives the work an emotional dimension, where each color becomes a note in a visual symphony.

In this way, Combas invites us to experience a raw joy, a deep connection with his whimsical world.

The entire composition is skilfully orchestrated, with each touch of color forming part of a vibrant rhythm.

This quest for harmony and narrative is central to Combas' work, which he sees as a celebration, a visual feast that resonates beyond the canvas.

In conclusion, L'Homme à la pipe is an emblematic work that testifies to Robert Combas' artistic commitment to the exploration of color and form.

She captures the very essence of her art, oscillating between lively energy and lightness, revealing a vision of the world where pictorial expression becomes a true celebration of existence.

Combas uses a wealth of means to evoke multiple emotions, creating a universe where each color, each movement, resonates in harmony with the next.

Recognizing Robert Combas' signature

Robert Combas usually signs his works on the canvas at the bottom of the support, in a color that contrasts with the background. Occasionally, Combas' works are unsigned.

Appraisal of a work by Robert Combas 

If you own a work by Robert Combas, request a free appraisal using our online form. 

A member of our team of experts and experienced auctioneers will contact you to provide an independent appraisal of your work.

If you're thinking of selling, our experts will also guide you through the various alternatives available to sell your part under the best possible conditions.

They can also inform you about art market trends and the results of recent sales of similar works.