Soulages Is Still the New Black

With the results of our recently completed Live Auction in Copenhagen, we can conclude that "the sky's the limit" when it comes to Pierre Soulages (b. 1919). He can celebrate his 100th birthday on Christmas Eve this year, and the demand for his works is only becoming greater, especially among our international customers.

If you own works by Soulages that you are considering selling at auction, then you are more than welcome to contact us for a non-binding valuation and a potential auction sale.

The Grand Old Man

Soulages is – both literally and figuratively – the grand old man of French abstract art, and at the age of almost one hundred years, he is considered the greatest living painter in France. His start in post-war Paris, his international breakthrough in the mid-1950s and most recently the opening in 2014 of Musée Soulages in Rodez in Southern France are all important milestones in a long artistic career and a consistently rigorous artistic effort.

"The Painter of Black"

It only appears as a paradox that the painter known as "The Painter of Black" also deals extensively with light. Even in the artist's completely black "Outrenoir" paintings from 1979 and onwards, the light becomes an external effect on the viewer's encounter with the work. As in so many other aspects of life, the contradictions reinforce each other, and in this way drama is also created in Soulages' works, when the broad black strokes – oil-based as well as in print form – reflect the surrounding light and play against a white background.

With the artist's special connection to Denmark – such as the friendship with Mogens Andersen, repeated exhibitions at Galerie Birch and his participation in the exhibition ”Levende Farver” (Living Colours)– there are a number of works by Soulages in Danish ownership.

We look forward to hearing from you!