Michel Henry [Winter in Normandy] 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 together with Buffet and Brasilier, he is one of the leading painters in the 20th century French art world. His paintings give off 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 transparent colors are likened to jewels. Red is said to be the color of ruby, blue is the color of sawaire, green is the color of emerald, and deep brown is the color of topaz. Michel Henry's paintings are collected by the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Swedish royal family, the Principality of Monaco, the Saudi Arabian royal family, and others. Galerie Adeka has been the sole distributor of Michel Henry in Japan since 1995, planning Michel Henry exhibitions in famous department stores and galleries throughout Japan, producing original prints signed by the artist himself, selling painting prints, and managing copyrights.

 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

Normandy is a plain facing the Atlantic Ocean, with the opposite shore being England. Looking from the sea after boarding a ship ferrying to England from the port city of Calais, you can see the steep Folkstone cliffs on the English side and the gentle hilly plains of Normandy, France. It seems to symbolize the harshness of England and the softness of France. The painting depicts delphiniums, which bloom several times a year in winter, roses, which are available all year round and come in many varieties, and oranges, a winter fruit. Beyond that, the snow-covered fields are softly drawn with gentle curves, and the weak light of the winter sun shines through the thick clouds in the winter sky. The orange and complementary violet highlight each other's vivid colors. Despite the harsh winter, the snow is depicted as warm cotton wool with soft curves, and the winter flowers and fruits are arranged in vivid colors, giving hope and joy to live in the harshness.

Gallery Adeka Yasuhiro Takeda