Olivier Masmonteil

Originally from Corrèze and passionate about fishing, Olivier Masmonteil carries the landscape within him, much like an artist such as Paul Rebeyrolle. His project to explore the genre in its entirety does not aim to empty it of its substance but, on the contrary, to celebrate it. (…) The artist follows in a tradition established by Turner at the beginning of the 19th century, when the Englishman tirelessly explored coastlines and countryside in search of new light and new motifs. In doing so, given the way he strives to immerse us in the painting, Olivier Masmonteil situates his work within the lineage of Monet's Water Lilies. The conceptual difference lies in the fact that, while Monet shaped nature to offer it a mirror, Masmonteil explored it in every direction to compose it like an infinite mosaic.

Olivier Masmonteil undertook the project of painting landscapes while traveling the world. A thousand small paintings, all the same small format. Like a travel journal. A thousand landscapes. Like an entomologist, Olivier Masmonteil seeks to reconnect with the myth of great travelers and explorers. The project lasted four years.

Olivier Masmonteil photographs the landscapes he has seen and then paints them in his studio. His aim is to sensitively capture the atmosphere, the light, the beauty and the magic of places he has visited around the world.

The reason for this exploration is no longer contemplation but reflection.

 ▶︎ Olivier Masmonteil website