1922

Simon Hantai, one of the most significant post-war European artists, is born in Bia, Hungary.

1941-48

He studied at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest and participated as a young artist in several group exhibitions.

1948

He emigrated to Paris with his wife, Zsuzsa Biró.

1953

Hantai attracted the attention and support of André Breton, who arranged his first solo exhibition in l’Étoile Scellée.

1958-59

He works on the painting, Écriture rose, which is an important turning point in his life and work.

1960

Hantai initiated his ‘pliage’ or folded canvas working method, an entirely new painting technique which would dominate his entire oeuvre.

1976

Retrospective exhibition at the Musée national d’art moderne in Paris.

1982

He represented France at the Venice Biennale. Immediately following this, Hantai withdrew from participation in the artworld and it was not until 1998 that he was persuaded to resume exhibiting and exchanging with French intellectuals and philosophers.

2008

He died in Paris.