The Skaters - Louis-marie Jullien (1904-1982)

In this watercolour we see two women arm in arm on ice skates, their heads turned to the right, as if looking over to someone beyond who has called out to them. The muted colour scheme of blues and greys is characteristic of Jullien's watercolours and adds a dream-like quality, in addition to capturing the chill of the winter scene.

The simplicity of the composition reflects Jullien's early work with graphic art and perhaps foreshadows his turning to tapestry later in his career. However, within the blocks of colour, Jullien skilfully uses washes of colour to render the texture of fabric and the mountainous landscape behind the two figures.

Louis-Marie Jullien

Born in 1904 in Marseilles, Louis-Marie Jullien was a pupil of the School of Fine Arts in this city until he travelled to Paris in 1924. It was here that he was first introduced to graphic arts and became a designer of advertisements.

For several years, in the middle of his career, Jullien devoted himself to painting. However, he travelled to Aubusson in 1936 where he joined the Picart le Doux in 1947 and became a member of the A.P.C.T (Association of Tapestry Painters-Cartonniers) and from 1948 he dedicated himself to tapestries. He began with figurative works, then moved on to scientific themes before he eventually evolved into abstraction. Many of these tapestries refer to the poetic character of an inspiration.

He participated and exhibited at the Salons of Decorative Artists. In 1955, he had a special exhibition at the Galerie la Demeure.