To look at a Jean DuQuoc painting is to enter a world of brilliant color. Duquoc celebrates the hardy people and majestic landscapes of his native Brittany in his luminous paintings, crafted from the pure, extreme palette pioneered by the early twentieth century Fauve artists. Inspired by fellow countrymen Van Gogh and Gauguin, Duquoc works with simplified, lyrically abstracted forms and raw, unmixed color in acrylic and oil pastel.
Born in Nantes, France in 1937, Duquoc is a self-taught painter who has enjoyed tremendous professional success throughout Europe and the U.S. over the past 25 years. In 1972 at the age of 35, Duquoc began to experiment with painting. “I developed the need to paint to tell the story of Brittany,” recalls Duquoc. “Painting tells a story – of the present time, of landscapes, of people. It can only emerge when moved by a feeling of love or nourished by memory.”
His native Brittany, known as “the Land of the Sunset,” has long been his inspiration. “My country is a very strong country and calls for strong colors,” observes the artist. “It is a country of strong contrasts. It is a finistere, a place where land and sea meet.” A number of his paintings incorporate the theme of a red sun. For DuQuoc, the red sun is a powerful symbol of rebirth and a window to eternity.
Duquoc’s paintings have been featured in sell-out shows in England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States. His works are in more than 5,000 private collections worldwide including King Albert II of Belgium.