Intermezzo 4., 2024

Bernadette Van Baarsen   New & remarkable Artists

A contemporary abstract geometric colour field landscape in oil on canvas by Dutch artist Bernadette Van Baarsen.  Signed bottom left.

Highly colourful and full of energy, this joyful painting is one of an exciting new series called 'Intermezzi' by Dutch artist Bernadette van Baarsen.

An artist who is not afraid to explore new styles and techniques has now taken us fearlessly towards the abstract geometric. Bernadette uses strong vibrant fields of colour, beautifully balanced to bring together wonderful landscapes.

The colours bring the energy whilst the strong shapes ground the composition. A jewel of a painting.

This vibrant artwork captures a striking landscape with a vivid array of geometric rooftops, showcasing an abstract interpretation of a quaint village scene. The artist employs bold, flat colours—bright pinks, oranges, blues, and yellows—that create a lively mosaic effect across the canvas. The rooftops appear to overlap dynamically, drawing the eye in multiple directions, while the background features subtle green hues suggesting rolling hills and a serene sky. The simplified shapes and saturated colours exude a playful yet harmonious composition, demonstrating a mastery of form and colour balance. The piece is characterized by its modernist approach, emphasizing the essence of the village rather than realistic detail, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork's rhythm and energy.

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.