Michel Henry [Spring in Alsace] Original silk screen print, autographed by the artist [framed]

Limited to 300 copies. Image size 52 x 65 cm. Frame size 82 x 94 cm. Created in 1985.

 Silkscreen printing was invented in the early 20th century. It is a screen printing technique in which color seeps through the mesh of silk or other materials and is transferred to paper or fabric. Areas where the color should not seep through are blocked off. The number of plates is equal to the number of colors used. It was used in the art field by American companies such as Warhol in the 1950s, and became popular as an art printing technique. By allowing a large amount of color to seep out, it is possible to create a thickness similar to that of oil paint, making it the perfect printing technique for Michel Henry, who has beautiful matière (the texture of paint applied with a brush or other tool).

Michel Henry is a painter who mainly paints flowers, and is one of the leading painters in the 20th century French art world along with Buffet and Brasilier. His paintings have a sense of happiness, so he is called the Painter of Happiness in France, and the King of Poppies in America because he paints many poppies. His works are held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Swedish royal family, the Principality of Monaco, and the Saudi Arabian royal family.

 This original silkscreen print was produced by a publisher in Paris in 1985 as part of a tetralogy of French seasons (Spring in Alsace, Summer in Cassis, Autumn in Burgundy, Winter in Normandy). It was purchased directly from the publisher in Paris in 2004.

Work Description

Cherry blossoms in Alsace are famous. They are in full bloom around April, and in June cherries are lined up in fruit shops. The pink petals of the cherry blossoms are arranged in a crystal vase and are painted in several different shades, and the cherry tree behind them is also painted in pale pink. The green fields peeking through the cherry trees and the hills and sky beyond are painted in pale blue and milky white. Pink clouds are scattered in the sky, creating a beautiful harmony with the cherry blossom petals. The Habsburgs, a noble family that held hegemony over all of Europe from around the 12th century to the 19th century, originated in Basel, Switzerland, but their ancestors came from Alsace. It might be fun to get a glimpse of the Habsburgs' splendor while looking at these gorgeous cherry blossoms.

Gallery Adeka Yasuhiro Takeda