Pierre Soulages (born 1919) is a French painter who is most well known for his use of thick black brushstrokes against a light background. He served in the military during World War II and afterwards returned to Paris to continue pursuing a career as a painter. One year later, in 1947, Soulages’ work was exhibited in the Salon des Indépendants. His distinct use of black with little to no color set him apart from his contemporaries who were creating very colorful abstract works. In 2001 Soulages became the first living artist to exhibit at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. He continues to work and live in Paris.
Pierre Soulages’ paintings in chronological order:
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| Brou de noix sur papier 48 x 62,5 cm, 1946, 1946 | Goudron sur verre 45.5 x 76.5 cm, 1948, 1948 | Brou de noix 65 x 50 cm, 1948, 1948 |
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| Peinture 146 x 114 cm, 1950, 1950 | Etching No. 2, 1952 | Untitled Intaglio, 1956 |
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| Lithographie No. 5, 1957 | Eau forte XII, 1957 | Peinture, 10 juin 1958, 1958 |
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| Peinture 21 Juillet 1958, July 1958 | Peinture 260 x 202 cm, 19 juin 1963, June 1963 | Peinture 23 avril 1963, April 1963 |
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| Peinture 220 x 366 cm, 14 mai 1968, May 1968 | Peinture 23 Mai 1969, May 1969 | Lithographie No. 22, 1969 |
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| Peinture 202 x 327 cm, 17 janvier 1970, Jan 1970 | Peinture 8 août 1974, Aug 1974 | Composition rouille et noire XXV, 1974 |
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| Peinture 19 mai 1982, May 1982 | Peinture 324 x 362 cm, 1985 (Polyptyque C), 1985 | Peinture 11 Juillet 1987, Jul 1987 |
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| Untitled, 1991 | B-Walnut Stain, 1998 | Peinture 243 x 181 cm, 26 juin 1999, 1999 |
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| Peinture 324 x 181 cm, 14 mars 1999 (Polyptyque), Mar 1999 | Peinture 130 x 81 cm, 20-03-2004, Mar 2004 | Peinture 103 x 81 cm, 18 Mars 2004, Mar 2004 |
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| A-Walnut Stain, 2004 | Gouache 2004 B-7, 2004 | B-Walnut Stain, 2004 |
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| Peinture 222 x 314 cm, 24 février 2008, Feb 2008 | Peinture 324 x 181 cm, 17 novembre 2008, Nov 2008 | Peinture 12 November 2008 (diptyque), Nov 2008 |
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| Peinture 12 novembre 2008, Nov 2008 | Peinture 227 x 306 cm, 2 Mars 2009, Mar 2009 | Peinture 324 x 181 cm, 19 février 2009 (Polyptyque), Feb 2009 |
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| Peinture 18 Mars 2010, Mar 2010 | Peinture 244 x 181 cm, 23 novembre 2010, Nov 2010 | Peinture 244 x 181 cm, 25 avril 2011, Apr 2011 |