The Old, Portrait By J. Devaux

Small panel of oil paint on wood. by j. devaux. titled: the old. text of presentations of the work in the Brussels press of 1942: At the Petite Galerie, Jean Devaux, who had already distinguished himself before by paintings of limited format, brings together for the first time an important group which will allow him to take stock at a decisive moment in his career. The merits of this young painter are obvious. there is first of all this velvety and unctuous material, which gives all his landscapes, including the less colorful ones, a particular shine. Jean devaux knows how to preserve in his paste this wet freshness which constitutes a serious asset in the games of an open-air painter. then there is an undeniable gift of colorist, who play with an infinity of fine shades, while maintaining each canvas in a single range. Perhaps he abuses easily picturesque subjects: old alleys, dilapidated farmhouses, dead ends, etc. If he persisted in following this dangerous path, Jean Devaux would risk becoming a sub-Gilsoul. It is better than that, thus proves, not only certain panoramic landscapes - the approach of the storm - in particular with the heavy threatening cloud - but also more exceptional works like THE OLD SITTING side by side in a dark interior. in this tiny canvas the painter has put his undeniable professional qualities at the service of an intense emotion.... 24x30 without the frame