Michel Henry <Red Inspiration> Original Silkscreen Print Signed by the Artist <Framed> Subscription

Limited to 250 copies. Image size: 65 x 81 cm. Frame size: 95 x 111 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, which creates a beautiful matière (the texture of paint applied with a brush, etc.), making it the perfect printing technique for Michel Henry.

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 is a diptych of still lifes (Red Inspiration and Veil of Hydrangeas) produced by a Parisian publisher in 1985. It was purchased directly from the Parisian publisher in 2004.

Work Description

This is a still life painting that focuses on light. A yellowish light comes in from behind, highlighting the hydrangea and coquelicot bouquet on the right, the sunflowers on the left, and the fruit compote in between. The areas closest to the light source are painted in bright vermilion red, and the shadow areas are dark burgundy. The contrast between light and shadow creates a dramatic effect. To encounter this type of painting, one must go back to the Baroque period of the 16th and 17th centuries. Rembrandt and Vermeer from the Netherlands, Caravaggio from Italy, and Georges de Latour from France come to mind. Baroque masters used this contrast between light and dark to dramatically depict people and history, but I feel that Michel Henry depicts the life of a human being by contrasting gorgeous poppies and hydrangeas with withered sunflowers. The red bouquet, which seems to be the main focus, represents youth, the mountain of fruit compote, suggesting the bountiful harvest of autumn, represents a fulfilling and successful middle age, and the withered sunflowers on the left foreshadow the winter of life that is soon to come. Michel Henry, who was in the limelight from his student days, had a glamorous start as a painter, achieved success all over the world, especially in Europe and the United States, and spent a fulfilling middle age, probably also had a premonition of the coming winter season. This is the fate of all human beings, but the more intense the light, the darker the shadows. Even so, it is a work that leaves a deep and strong impression on the soul.

Gallery Adeka Yasuhiro Takeda

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