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

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

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

Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price. 

Artist's quote and value 

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

His works are particularly prized above all 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 while it was estimated at between €30,000 and €250,000.

The artist's quotation is quite high and varies according to the quantity of work present on the auction market. 

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

Style and technique by artist Robert Combas  

French artist born in 1957, Robert Combas is the founder of the Figuration libre movement, a current 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 the world of 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 to ceramics, as well as 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 detail captivate the eye.

It is 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.", like artists like Keith Haring or Louis Cane.

Robert Combas : artiste libre - Tracks

The life and career of Robert Combas 

Robert Combas, born in 1957 in Montpellier, epitomizes the polymorphous artist of the contemporary. From an early age, he was passionate about art, blossoming his artistic sense between the world of comics and the influences of popular culture.

Fascinated by the dynamism of urban life and bright colors, Combas applies himself to creating 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.

Thus, 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 draws inspiration from twentieth-century artists, while retaining an approach all his own, which he describes as a "period of free figuration".

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

Abstraction wasn't a given early in his career, and he experimented with figurative works with varied influences, before finding his way with painting in the late 1970s.

Shortly thereafter, he asserted 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, affirming his place within 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 borders.

With the soul of a jack-of-all-trades, he engages in a variety of projects, from murals to monumental sculptures, constantly pushing back the boundaries of his art.

Despite critics who describe him as "superficial", Combas forges an inimitable style, characterized by vivid flat colors and dynamic compositions, where joie de vivre is expressed without reserve.

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 consider his work 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 testifies to his unique style, characterized by visual explosiveness and a rich color palette.

Combas, an emblematic figure of the neo-expressionist movement, uses painting to explore a variety of themes, oscillating between celebration and violence, between 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 that favors raw expression over formal precision.

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

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

Bypassing traditional conventions, he employs a personal iconography, where elements intermingle without hierarchy, forming a living 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 thus creates a universe where every detail counts, every color explodes, and disorder becomes an art form.

Bataille 3910 remains an emblematic work from 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 conveys the playful spirit of his art. L'Homme à la pipe embodies the interplay between figuration and abstraction, revealing an imaginative dimension at the heart of his creative process.

The palpably intense brushstrokes 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 life scene, 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.

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

The colors, bright and dynamic, seem to come alive on the canvas. Their movement, joyful and fluid, evokes an organic dynamic, like a breath of life running through the work.

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

The contrasts between bright hues and softer areas intensify this sensation of movement.

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

Combas, by this means, invites us to feel a raw joy, a deep connection with his whimsical universe.

The entire composition is skilfully orchestrated, each touch of color coming to form part of a vibrant rhythm.

This search for harmony and narrative is central to Combas's work, which envisioned painting 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's artistic commitment to the exploration of color and form.

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

Combas manages, through the richness of his means, to evoke multiple emotions, to create a universe where each color, each movement, resonates in harmony with the other.

Recognizing Robert Combas's signature

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

Expertise 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 experienced experts and auctioneers will contact you to provide an independent appraisal of your work.

If you are considering selling, our experts will also guide you through the various alternatives available to sell your piece on the best terms.

They will also be able to inform you about art market trends and the results of recent sales involving similar works.