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Understanding French culture through Henri Landier’s paintings
The Hindu
Explore Henri Landier's visual diary of France through 90 original paintings, exhibited for the first time in India.
Douce France is a visual diary of artist Henri Landier, consisting of 90 original paintings that showcase a journey across France. The paintings of the 89-year-old French artist have been exhibited for the first time in India at the Indo-French Cultural Center under the French Embassy.
Henri’s artworks portray how he sees his country, from darkness to light and through the images of Parisian streets, landscapes, and seascapes.
The communication coordinator of Alliance Francaise de Delhi, Devika A S says“Knowing and respecting different cultures and traditions are heartwarming ways to gain knowledge. “ Celebration of any art form makes people more connected and strengthens the relationship between the citizens of different nations”.
The art gallery, decorated with buntings matching the colours of the French national flag, enhances the ambience. In the artworks, colours speak louder than the space on the canvas. Henri’s paintings are versatile and range from oil and watercolors to etching, monotypes and lithography. He gives a glimpse into his world of friends and muses through his art. For instance, the painting titled Julien and his Violin in the Paris Sky is about his friend; Alexandra is a portrait of his granddaughter sleeping.
In an e-mail interview, Henri says his journey as a painter has evolved over the years. “From a tragic vision of life to a serene mindset, I have undergone (a) transformation. I don’t paint the way I used to in the 1950s and I wouldn’t be able to reproduce the paintings I made a few decades ago,” he says.
“When I was young, I would put many layers of paint on the canvas to create a dense feel but now I think the lighter the texture of colours are, the better the art work looks. I don’t use palette knives anymore but my water colours are done in shades of bright colors. The older I get, I find more joy in my work,” he adds.
To young painters, Henri says, “Passion and creativity should be motivation to compose artworks. Inspiration and curiosity are necessary to progress.”