Pierre Soulages : biography

Pierre Soulages, born in 1919 in Rodez, France, is a seminal figure in abstract art, globally recognized for his profound exploration of the color black. Nicknamed "the painter of black and light," Soulages is famous for works where black predominates, not to absorb light, but to reflect and modulate it.

Soulages began painting in the 1940s, and from the outset, he turned towards abstraction, a bold decision at a time when figurative art still largely dominated. He quickly developed a distinctive approach that involved using tools such as painting knives and stiff brushes to apply thick layers of paint, creating rich textures that capture and alter light.

Over the years, Soulages deepened his exploration of black, which he referred to as "Noir-Lumière" to emphasize how black can play with light depending on how it is applied to the canvas. This technique evolved into what he called "Outrenoir," a term he coined to describe works that transcend the simple use of black paint to become visual experiences focused on light and its reflection.

The "Outrenoir" paintings by Soulages are not simply black; they consist of textured surfaces that reflect light in such a way that the viewer's perception changes depending on their angle and the intensity of the light. This dynamic interaction between light, color, and the viewer is at the heart of Soulages' work, which he sees as a meeting place between matter, space, and light.

Pierre Soulages also had a remarkable career as a creator of monumental works for public spaces, including stained glass windows for the Abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques, near his birthplace. These stained glass windows, which use uncolored glass to capture and transform natural light, are another facet of his ongoing exploration of the interactions between light and darkness.

Soulages' impact on modern art is immense. He is considered one of the great masters of post-World War II abstraction and continues to evoke admiration and respect for his rigorous and poetic approach to painting. His works are housed in the permanent collections of the world's most prestigious museums, and he was honored with numerous awards throughout his career.

In December 2019, on the occasion of his centenary, the Louvre Museum in Paris dedicated a retrospective exhibition to him, solidifying his status as a giant of contemporary art. Pierre Soulages continues to paint, exploring the mysteries and infinite possibilities of his preferred medium, black, which for him is never just a color, but a revealed light.