Jean van Dongen

Jean van Dongen is a French painter born in 1950 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. His family moved to Paris when he was still a child, and it was in the French capital that he spent most of his life. Self-taught, he began painting at the age of 13 and quickly developed a passion for figurative painting.

Van Dongen first became involved in the Figuration Libre movement, which emerged in the 1980s. This artistic movement, which advocated a return to figuration and a break with abstraction, enabled Van Dongen to establish himself as a painter of everyday life, sensitive to colour contrasts and the beauty of simple things.

However, Van Dongen quickly distinguished himself from the Figuration Libre movement by developing a personal style, marked by the use of a bright and contrasting colour palette. His canvases, often large, are complex compositions, mixing figurative motifs with abstract elements.

Van Dongen's work is deeply influenced by popular culture, particularly comic strips and posters. His paintings contain references to Tintin, Mickey Mouse and famous advertisements. This pop dimension gives his work a playful, accessible feel. He loved to decorate his office with tiffany lamps that you can see here.

Over the years, Van Dongen has established himself as one of the most important figurative painters of his generation. He has exhibited in numerous museums and galleries around the world, from Paris to Tokyo and New York. His works can be found in numerous public and private collections. Many are on show at the museum of modern art of the city of Troyes.

Van Dongen is also a committed artist, sensitive to environmental and social issues. He has produced a number of artistic projects linked to nature, such as the "Tree of Life" series, which pays tribute to trees threatened with extinction.

Now over 70, Van Dongen continues to work with passion and energy, exploring new artistic territories while remaining true to his unique and recognisable style. His work is a vibrant testament to the importance of figurative painting in contemporary art, and to art's ability to tell stories, evoke emotions and build bridges between cultures.