// Jean-Michel Folon’s Je vous écris de New York (1986) is a silkscreen print that presents an interior scene overlooking a vibrant cityscape. The composition features a darkened room with five windows, each framing sections of the New York skyline under a deep blue twilight. Brightly colored blocks of orange and green, visible through some of the windows, contrast with the cooler tones, adding an element of surrealism. Shadows on the floor enhance the sense of depth, creating a feeling of both confinement and connection to the bustling city outside. Folon’s work often reflects themes of solitude and reflection within urban settings, capturing the introspective atmosphere of an observer isolated within a vast metropolis.
Jean-Michel Folon (Belgium, 1934–2005) was a celebrated illustrator, painter, and sculptor known for his dreamlike imagery. Using soft colors and surreal compositions, his works often depicted solitary figures, expansive landscapes, and themes of freedom, humanity, and nostalgia.
Silkscreen Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in the desired sections. Each color in the print requires a separate screen.
// Jean-Michel Folon’s Je vous écris de New York (1986) is a silkscreen print that presents an interior scene overlooking a vibrant cityscape. The composition features a darkened room with five windows, each framing sections of the New York skyline under a deep blue twilight. Brightly colored blocks of orange and green, visible through some of the windows, contrast with the cooler tones, adding an element of surrealism. Shadows on the floor enhance the sense of depth, creating a feeling of both confinement and connection to the bustling city outside. Folon’s work often reflects themes of solitude and reflection within urban settings, capturing the introspective atmosphere of an observer isolated within a vast metropolis.
Jean-Michel Folon (Belgium, 1934–2005) was a celebrated illustrator, painter, and sculptor known for his dreamlike imagery. Using soft colors and surreal compositions, his works often depicted solitary figures, expansive landscapes, and themes of freedom, humanity, and nostalgia.
Contemporary artist Jean-Michel Folon attained notoriety in several different mediums, including painting, illustrating and sculpting. The Belgian-born Folon studied architecture at the Institut St. Luc in Brussels. He began his foray into the art world as a watercolor painter. Jean-Michel Folon’s first exhibition, which took place at the Lefebre Gallery in New York City in 1969 was in that style. However, as Folon's career took off, he moved into etching, silkscreen, illustrations, mosaics and stained glass. Jean-Michel Folon participated in the twenty-fifth Venice Biennele, a bi-annual celebration at which contemporary artists, dancers, architects and stage performers from around the world gather to share their work. Several internationally-renowned museums have dedicated exhibitions to Folon, including the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France; the Museo Correr in Venice, Italy; and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. One of his famous works is 'The Feast,' completed in 1983. Folon published drawings in a number of American newspapers. In addition,his illustrations have been featured in works by famous authors, such as Franz Kafka, Ray Bradbury, Jorge Luis Borges and AlbertCamus. Jean-Michel Folon was named a UNICEF Ambassador in 2004 and died the following year at age 71. (Artist website)
Naïve art describes a style of artwork that is simple and unsophisticated, often created by artists without formal training in an academy or art school. The style is characterized by a lack of advanced techniques, giving it a childlike appearance. Naïve art often features bright colors, simple shapes, and a straightforward approach to subject matter, reflecting the artist's untrained perspective.