Mario Prassinos is an artist of French-Italian origin born in 1916 in Constantinople. He became a naturalized French citizen in 1949 after volunteering in 1939.
In 1922, his family moved to France. The artist had his first solo exhibition in 1938 at the Galerie Billiet-Vorms. From 1942 to 1950, he produced numerous engraved illustrations, in collaboration with the Éditions de la N.R.F., to accompany the texts of famous authors such as Rimbaud, Apollinaire, Sartre or Edgar Allan Poe.
It is from 1952 that Mario Prassinos produces tapestry cartoons. For nearly 33 years, the artist made more than 150 cartoons, all woven in the factories of Aubusson, Beauvais and Gobelins. Many of his tapestries will be exhibited at the gallery La Demeure, until 1974.
In 1961, he was named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, in 1966, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, and in 1981, Officier des Arts et des Lettres.
"Mario Prassinos donated to the French State a synthesis of his work: paintings, drawings, engravings, tapestries, prints. In accordance with his wishes and at the end of an agreement, this collection is entrusted to the FMP DONATION MARIO PRASSINOS which is inaugurated on June 12, 1986."
Source : © Centre d'Archives Mario Prassinos-ADAGP Paris 2021