Born in 1974 and based in Koblenz, Germany, Hendrik Beikirch has made a name for himself on the international art scene with his monumental murals and black and white portraits. These works, which adorn the streets of major cities around the world – from Europe to Australia and North America to Asia – are much more than mere urban decoration: they represent a compelling visual dialogue, a contemplation of individuality in the age of globalisation.
Henri Matisse‘s L’Atelier rouge is a testament to the transformative power of colour and form in modern art. Painted in 1911, it was first known to the world as Panneau rouge (Red Panel), emphasising its departure from traditional easel painting towards a more integrated, decorative approach. This title emphasised the painting’s radical monochrome, focusing on its colouristic boldness rather than its figurative elements – a pioneering move by Matisse that reflected the spirit of early modernism.
Since 16 March, the Musée de Picardie has been offering visitors a spellbinding immersion in the world of Impressionism through the exceptional exhibition “Sur la plage”. On loan from the prestigious Musée d’Orsay, this emblematic work by Édouard Manet takes visitors on an artistic journey to the heart of the movement that revolutionised French painting.
Dated 1873, Sur la plage is much more than just a canvas. It is an open window onto the shore at Berck-sur-Mer, where the artist captures the fleeting moment when his wife Suzanne and his brother Eugène let themselves be carried away by the tranquillity of reading or contemplating the ocean. Through this intimate scene, Manet invites us to share a moment of serenity and melancholy, while inviting us to adopt the gaze of the yachtsman, imbued with the magic of the sea.
Édouard Manet, the guiding light of Impressionism, stands out for his singular vision of the world. A precursor of thisdaring movement, he defied academic conventions by favouring spontaneity, luminosity and fluidity in his works. “Sur la plage” is a perfect example, where bright colours and light brushstrokes express all the vivacity of nature and modern life.
Vincent Libecq‘s studio produces sculptures that are much more than mere objets d’art. They are vectors of emotion, bridges between the artist and the viewer. Born in 1966, Libecq learnt the art of sculpting at the age of 20. But beyond technique, transmitting his raw emotions to touch the universal is close to his heart !
Describing himself as a “sculptor who passes on emotion”, he doesn’t see technique as an end in itself, but as a means of deeply touching those who stand before his works. The emotions of the world, captured by his observant eye, take shape in sculptures that speak of joy, beauty, sadness, fear, poetry and humour. In this approach, Libecq succeeds in making the intimate and the universal resonate, asserting that art is that emotion which intimately links us to the whole of humanity.
His works, such as Le Loup and Le Taureau, are powerful expressions of the strength and energy of these animals. They are shaped with a personal touch that introduces openwork metal not only as a material, but also as a dynamic sculptural element that interacts with light to create a living, expressive presence.
