Soulages, Pierre

(1919- )

   painter

   A leading abstract expressionist, Pierre Soulages was born in Rodez. After painting sparse landscapes (1938-46), he developed a powerful and balanced abstract style. He painted, at the same time, strong compositions dominated by rectangular black forms, constructed on the play of horizontals and verticals, and often animated by light or rare bursts of color. Paradoxically, this extremely abstract painter was dedicated to the rigorous techniques of the artists he had known in his childhood at Rodez. Giving a great importance to the material aspects of his art, he did not hesitate to use the tools of building painters or even the soles of shoes. At the same time, he often gave his works identical titles (Pienture, date, size), thereby eliminating all anecdotal aspects. After 1979, his paintings have been done entirely in black, and are given movement by large stripes transversed by streaks that hold the light.