Véronique Filozof Swiss, 1905-1977

Véronique Filozof (1904–1977), born Véréna Valérie Sandreuter in Basel, Switzerland, was a French painter, illustrator, and graphic artist whose practice merged elements of folk traditions with modernist aesthetics. Trained at the Basel School of Design, she moved to France in 1923 and later played an active role in the French Resistance during World War II, using her language skills and establishing a sewing workshop to support local families and resistance efforts.

Following the war, Filozof focused entirely on her artistic practice, developing a distinctive visual language through intricate India ink drawings, vivid gouache paintings, and large-scale tapestries. Her work often depicted scenes of rural life, domestic interiors, and landscapes, imbued with social commentary and a focus on the human condition. Collaborating with the Aubusson tapestry workshops and illustrating publications such as Le Périgord noir (1954) and La Bible en images (1957), she maintained a commitment to accessible and socially engaged forms of expression.

Filozof exhibited widely, with significant shows in Paris, Basel, and Sarlat. Her works are included in public collections such as the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Musée International d’Art Naïf in Nice.