French writer and painter born in Paris, brother of Balthus. Spent childhood travelling throughout Europe and having Bonnard, Derain, Rilke and Gide as friends of the family. Studied philosophy and theology in Lyon and Paris. In 1933 met Georges Bataille and participated in Contra Attaque movement. In 1947 published his first work, Sade, mon prochain. In 1948-55 collaborated on Sartre’s publication, Les temps modernes. Translated Kafka, Hamann, Nietzsche and Wittgenstein. In 1953 executed series of drawings for second novel Roberte ce soir. In 1954 began to draw larger scale works based on literary themes from Greek mythology to Sade, Stendhal and Bataille. In 1963 first stay in Rome when Balthus was nominated director of the Villa Médicis in Rome. In 1967 first one-person exhibition, Galerie Ãu Cadran Solire, Paris. In 1968 first exhibition abroad, Galerie Aurora, Geneva, 1970 Galerie Schwartz, Milan. Friend of Deleuze, Lyotard and Foucault. In 1975 he made film Roberte in collaboration with Pierre Zucca. 1981 Kunsthalle, Basel, 1982 “Documenta 7”, Kassel, 1990 La Différence/Centre National des Arts Plastiques, Paris. Lives in Paris.