Jean Arene, Stroller at the Dovecote, 2006, Oil

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French landscape, Expressionist oil on board by Jean Arene. The painting is signed bottom left, titled dated and signed to … Read more French landscape, Expressionist oil on board by Jean Arene. The painting is signed bottom left, titled dated and signed to the back and is presented in the original 'Arene' frame supplied by the artist.

This painting captures a serene urban landscape, characterized by bold, expressive brushstrokes and vibrant colours. The scene depicts a solitary figure walking along a curved path, flanked by a looming hedge in rich green hues. The sharp contrast between the sunny pathway and the deep shadows cast by a central lamppost enriches the sense of depth and movement. To the left, a striking white tree blossoms, adding contrast and balance to the composition. The simplicity of the architectural elements, coupled with the dynamic energy of thick black outlines, draws attention to the painting's modernist influences. This piece masterfully blends abstraction with realism, inviting viewers to ponder the interplay between natural and urban environments. Its unique style, marked by vibrant contrasts and minimalist design, ensures an engaging visual experience.

Jean Arène was a student of August Chabaud, a highly sought after French artist in Provence who in turn took his inspiration from Cezanne.

After a stint in 1949 at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille, then a year in Paris in 1950 with the poster artist Paul Colin, Jean Arène returned to Marseille the following year where he founded the "Group of under 30'' with Trofimoff, Trabuc, Zutter and Mela and began painting as an autodidact, while earning a living in advertising and decoration.

His first exhibition dates from 1956. Then, from 1957, Jean Arène left the city for the countryside, which served as his base for many trips, often hitchhiking and backpacking, but always accompanied by a pencil and a sketchbook: Spain, Morocco in 1957, West Africa in 1960, (followed by an exhibition in Dakar), Northern Europe (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lapland , Lofoten, Netherlands and Belgium) In 1963 a trip to Tunisia. Then in 1966 his first retrospective in Toulon.

In 1970 Arène left for the United States and Mexico, followed two years later by West Africa again: Tassili, the Sahara and Algeria.

He exhibited extensively in Provence and the Gard: Aix-en-Provence, Uzès, Avignon, La Ciotat and Cassis. But his travels also led him to exhibit abroad: Dakar, Ouagadougou, French cultural centres in Algeria, Morocco and Indonesia, where he also started preparing one of his books which later became a series. This piece has an attribution mark,
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