Village Square

Features

Signed, Framed

Size

Small (up to 12in.)

Color

Beige

- Provenance: original artwork signed “XATARD” lower right This piece was purchased in Europe in the 1960s and has since been part of the Winter family collection of Accokeek, Maryland. - Media: oil on wood panel - Artwork Dimensions: 11 1/16”h x 9 1/8"v - Frame Dimensions: 14 1/16"h x 12 1/8"v - Condition: excellent, like new Jean Axetard also known by the name “ESPEJO” is a painter born in Marseille, France in 1931. His paintings depict nostalgic scenes of French village life. His work has been exhibited at galleries in France and England, including Gladwell & Patterson in London. He is known for his folk art style, which often features vibrant colors and scenes that evoke a sense of nostalgia for a distinct "French heart and soul". Axatard's painting techniques are defined by his distinctive folk art style, which often exhibits characteristics of naïve or primitive art. While he was formally trained in Marseille, his works deliberately depart from classical academic traditions to create a sense of nostalgia and childlike charm. Axatard's painting techniques are defined by his distinctive folk style, which often exhibits characteristics of naïve or primitive art. While he was formally trained in Marseille, his works deliberately depart from classical academic traditions to create a sense of nostalgia and childlike charm. Similar to other naïve artists, Axatard often uses a bright and rich color palette. He tends to apply colors in an unblended, "flat" manner, giving his work a decorative and somewhat surreal quality, rather than a naturalistic one. His human and animal figures are rendered in a charmingly unrefined or "naive" way. The shapes and forms are simplified and can appear flat, which is characteristic of the untrained or self-taught artist's aesthetic. Despite the naïve treatment of figures, sources note Axatard's mastery in depicting skies and light. His work effectively captures the atmosphere of a scene, creating tranquil or nostalgic impressions. Axatard does not always adhere to the rules of traditional perspective. Objects and figures may appear stacked or exist in an imaginative spatial relationship with one another, giving the compositions a slightly awkward but charming and intimate feel. Although simplified, his scenes are often bustling with life, featuring numerous characters moving through landscapes that mix architecture and nature. Some critics have even compared his detailed, organized canvases to those of the 16th-century painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Axatard's original works were oil paintings, with some also being reproduced as lithographs. His technique involved using this medium to its full effect to achieve his specific style. 

Style

Folk art