Contemporary Fauvist Landscape. Vague., 2023

Bernadette Van Baarsen   New & remarkable Artists

Contemporary Provençal landscape in pastel on canvas by Dutch artist Bernadette van Baarsen. 
Signed, dated and titled, 'Vague'.

A vibrant landscape unfolds through a dynamic interplay of color and light. The composition is guided by a winding golden path. This trail draws the eye toward a solitary red structure nestled among dense greenery. Bold brushstrokes create a sense of movement across the terrain. The palette balances warm ochres with cool greens and deep blues. Light dances across the grassy slopes in fragmented patches. It suggests a bright afternoon under a wide, streaked sky. The artist employs a rhythmic application of paint to evoke the raw energy of nature. This artwork captures a quiet moment of rural solitude. The contrast between the vivid red building and the surrounding foliage creates a striking focal point. Every stroke contributes to a tactile atmosphere. The horizon remains soft and open. The scene merges a structured human presence with the organic flow of the earth. Attention is drawn to the textured surface of the canvas. The light shifts subtly from the foreground to the distant trees. This creates a deep spatial perspective. The painting concludes with a focus on the harmony between the winding road and the distant architecture.

Bernadette ('Berna', as she autographs her works) VAN BAARSEN was born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After finishing her high-school she followed training to be a nurse and architect, whilst at the same time being a lead singer in two Dutch punk bands and making sculptures in plexiglass. Later in life she decided to pursue an academic career and obtained a PhD in psychology and medical ethics. She worked as associate professor at the Free University of Amsterdam and was member of several high-level medical-ethical committees. In 2015 she settled in France. Being essentially autodidact, she took up painting, in particular after being inspired by the Provençal landscape and friendships with fellow artists. In recent years she has shown her work at successful exhibitions in Provence and elsewhere.