Henri de Jordan (1944-1996) - L’éclat et l’ombre des Corbières

Hello,

I am offering 2 pastels in a single, unique double-sided frame by Henri de JORDAN (1944-1996), a painter-referenced artist renowned for his mastery of light and vibrant landscapes.

- Pastel No. 1 titled “the Escape of the Corbières in Spring,” depicts a countryside landscape treated in an impressionist and bucolic vein. In the foreground, there is a meadow in intense pale-green tones and tender grass crossed by a winding dirt path edged with ochre and brown hues. In the second plane, a screen of dense vegetation (hedges, groves, and broad-leaved trees) is rhythmized by two more upright trees with light spring foliage. The silhouette of a small building or a white wall nestled in the greenery can be discerned. The background is a clear view toward a distant plain or valley that fades under a diffuse horizon line. The sky, a soft blue nuanced with gray and white, occupies about the top third of the composition. This work is in very good condition.

- Pastel No. 2 titled “Ochre of Autumn in Corbières Land.” The work shows a horizontal stratification typical of the artist’s landscapes. The composition is structured by lines of force that cut the space into terraces or fields. In the foreground, dark vegetal masses are treated with a high pigment density, adding depth. In the second plane, a central luminous zone dominated by ochre-orange and earth tones evokes autumn plowed lands. The background is a high horizon line marked by dark hills, blue Prussian and dark emerald greens, under a trailing sky in pearly gray and pale yellow hues. This work is in perfect conservation.

These rural landscapes, inspired by the Midi region of France, are areas Henri de JORDAN often painted. You can see his usual “style” with a nerveful, almost sculptural touch and a layering of warm tones (ochres, earths) and cool tones (deep blues, dark greens). This work is signed bottom left “H. de Jordan” and dated “75.” This period corresponds to his relocation to NARBONNE, a time when his palette intensified under the influence of Mediterranean light. The piece features rough edges with a textured, paper-like feel and studio margins frequently used by JORDAN, who mostly worked on free and spontaneous formats.

Frame dimensions (single): 34 cm x 26 cm
Pastel No. 1 dimensions: 19.5 cm x 13.5 cm
Pastel No. 2 dimensions: 26.5 cm x 18.5 cm

Jordan’s technique is recognizable by the powdered render, the layering of direct color, and the velvety texture characteristic of his work. The natural wood frame with a glossy finish adds a genuine touch of originality and a warm, authentic artisanal style. The uniqueness of a double-sided frame allows changing the artwork according to weather and mood.

Henri de JORDAN (1944-1996), born in Algeria, settled very young in the Pyrénées-Orientales. He rubbed shoulders with great names such as Jean LURCAT and Salvador DALI. Although he worked a lot with oil and gouache, his pastels are particularly prized by the public for their velvety aspect and the strength of the contrasts they allow. In 1975, Henri de Jordan was in the midst of artistic maturity. Settled in the south of France after leaving Dauphiné, he abandoned cool tones for a brighter, sunlit palette. This example of these two pastels from the painter’s period is sought after for their ability to capture the heavy, colorful atmosphere of the Languedoc and Catalonia.