Joseph Rethlin

Joseph Rethlin

France • 1957

"In the beginning, there was a fish, then two, then flowers, fruits, vegetables, and finally men..."

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Joseph Rethlin is a contemporary French painter specializing in contemporary still-life art. 

An art collector and dealer, he also worked as a jewelry photographer before dedicating himself to painting. This experience with imagery shaped his approach to composition, light, and texture. After years of observing and collecting paintings, he chose to engage with the canvas himself. 

His work centers primarily on fish, lemons, flowers, and everyday objects. In these simple subjects, he seeks a pictorial presence grounded in light, color, and the balance of forms. 

His paintings favor clean, uncluttered compositions. The forms remain distinct, while the backgrounds are deliberately simplified to focus the viewer's gaze on the subject. Balancing realism with minimalism, Joseph Rethlin explores how ordinary objects can be transformed through painting into true subjects in their own right.

Explore all artworks (8)

Painting, Spring around the corner, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,287

Painting, Lemons on the green, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,450

Painting, It feels like summer, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 60 x 81 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,353

Painting, Jungle-gum, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 73 x 92 x 1 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,362

Painting, Poppies sur or, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 65 x 54 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,606

Painting, Deux Maquereaux Sur Un Plat, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,450

Painting, 3 citrons, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 214

Painting, Les deux maquereaux, Joseph Rethlin

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 369