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Jean Soyer
Mysterious Shadow Figure in Red - Contemporary Dark Art Oil Painting

About the Item

A powerful abstract oil painting on canvas (31.5 x 31.5 inches) by contemporary artist Jean Soyer. The artwork features bold black brushstrokes against a vibrant red background, suggesting a maritime silhouette, or a pagoda. Created using Soyer's signature technique of thick impasto application with large brushes and combs, resulting in dramatic textural reliefs that enhance the painting's dynamic presence. This commanding abstract composition masterfully balances aggressive gestural brushwork with contemplative spatial arrangement, evoking the dramatic presence of a sailing vessel against a blazing crimson sky. While the influence of Georges Mathieu's dynamic calligraphic style is evident in the bold, sweeping brushstrokes, the work also recalls the powerful maritime abstractions of Pierre Soulages, particularly in its use of black against vibrant color. The painting's architectural strength and suggestion of form within abstraction shows subtle parallels to Hans Hartung's controlled yet explosive mark-making. The artist's distinctive use of combing techniques creates a unique textural language that sets this work apart from its historical precedents. While primarily abstract, the composition suggests a maritime narrative through its powerful vertical forms and atmospheric background, demonstrating Soyer's ability to balance between pure abstraction and suggested representation. The work exemplifies the contemporary evolution of gestural abstraction, building upon the foundations of the French Lyrical Abstraction movement while establishing its own distinctive visual vocabulary.
  • Creator:
    Jean Soyer (1937, French)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 31.5 in (80 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Clermont-Ferrand, FR
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: B251stDibs: LU1041115848292

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