Male nude in an idyllic rural setting, large late 20th century oil on canvas by Josquin Pouillon. The painting is signed and dated ('93) bottom left and is presented in a custom wood tray frame.

This artwork vividly captures a serene landscape, merging human presence with nature in a harmonious dance of vibrant colours. The scene centres on a male figure seated by a reflective stream, surrounded by lush vegetation. The figure's contemplative pose indicates a deep connection with the surrounding environment. Above, birds glide gracefully across the expansive sky, adding a sense of freedom and dynamic movement to the composition. The trees and foliage are depicted in bold, expressive brushstrokes, suggesting vitality and growth. The use of cool blues and greens creates a calming atmosphere, while hints of warmer colours in the details evoke a sense of warmth and harmony. This piece uniquely blends natural and human elements, inviting viewers to explore the symbiotic relationship between the two, and to find peace within this idyllic setting.

Josquin Pouillon's childhood was immersed in art: his mother served as a Curator at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, and later at the Centre Pompidou, exposing him at a very young age to abstract modern art. His maternal grandfather, the Curator of the Cabinet des Dessins at the Louvre Museum, instilled in him a rather classical grounding—a connection he cherished, often visiting his grandfather at the Louvre. His education also opened him to paintings from the classical age to the most contemporary: he attended the Atelier Met de Penninghen and later the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris. During these formative years, he produced numerous copies at the Louvre (Rembrandt, Velázquez, Goya, etc.). Josquin was also an excellent draftsman. In 1987, he devoted himself entirely to painting and his personal projects. Josquin divided his life between the family village of Bonnu in the French countryside and Paris. Painting landscapes was a constant throughout his life; he was completely immersed in them. He experienced the landscapes, and it was deeply ingrained in him, which he then translated onto canvas. He wasn't an easel painter; he never painted directly from nature. Instead, it was always a reinterpretation of his intimate experiences in nature. His landscapes, both imaginary and highly recognizable, remained a consistent presence in his work, whether abstract or more figurative—boundaries were not a significant concern for him. Throughout his career, he oscillated between classical and abstract, yet regardless of his series, he always felt the need to return to a classical register, either through drawing or painting. It was a sort of return to his roots, coexisting with his later production of relatively abstract works. Oil painting always held his preference, but towards the end of his life, he exclusively worked with soft pastels. Beyond Landscapes, his most renowned series include the Ateliers, Little Love Stories, Trees of Life, and the Indians.

Né à Suresnes (Seine), le 18 septembre 1961 Décédé à Paris, le 28 mars 2020

Formation

1987 : Diplôme de l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, atelier CUECO 1983-87 : Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (cours de M. CARON). Réalise des copies au Musée du Louvre (REMBRANDT, Guido RENI, Philippe de CHAMPAIGNE, Diego VELASQUEZ, Francisco GOYA) 1981-82 : Atelier Met de Penninghen (Préparation au Concours de l’ENSBA) 1979-80 : DEUG de Lettres modernes (Paris IV, Sorbonne) 1978 : Baccalauréat A7 (Dessin/Histoire de l'Art)

Prix & commandes

2001 : Décoration des Bureaux du Directoire des Assurances AZUR-GMF, Paris 1996-98 : Réalisation de divers story-boards pour des films publicitaires dont « GUERLAIN » réalisé par Wim Wenders, BIC réalisé par Josiane Balasko, SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE 1994 : Pastels pour l’édition d’un Compact Disc et d’une plaquette par ERATO DISQUES (WARNER MUSIC) 1992 : Commande du Livre d’Or : Le Voyage au bout de la Nuit, par RAISON PURE 1991 : Constitution d’une collection « Musique » pour ERATO DISQUES 1990 : Assistant technique à la mise en scène sur le film Van Gogh de Maurice PIALAT (attaché spécialement à assister Jacques DUTRONC dans son rôle de peintre) ; réalise plusieurs copies de Van Gogh pour ce film 1989 : Primé au Concours PERRIER-JOUET 1989 : Obtient le 1er prix du Concours SINGER 1988 : Obtient le 1er prix au Concours AVENUE BANQUE organisé à l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris

Collections

Diverses collections privées françaises, USA, japonaises, brésilienne