PIERRE SOULAGES

Pierre Soulages has gained international recognition as a prominent figure of both Art Informel, which arose in France during the Second World War, and Abstract Expressionism, its American pendant. From the 1940s to the 1970s, black progressively conquered the surface of his calligraphic-like abstract paintings, which also incorporated subtle hints of colours (mainly ochre and blue). His aesthetics radically shifted towards monochrome in 1979, when he initiated his lifelong series ‘Outrenoir’. He has been known as ‘the painter of black and light’ ever since. Literally translating as ‘beyond black,’ Outrenoir opens onto a new realm that transcends purely gestural and monochromatic abstraction. Systematically applied in thick layers on canvas, black paint is meticulously scraped, striated and overall sculpted to create smooth or rough areas reflecting light in various ways. By masterfully turning black into a luminous colour, Pierre Soulages further powerfully evokes the Genesis of the world, which came out of darkness.