PORTRAITS by FRANÇOISE CAUVIN-MONET

« Should one paint what is on a face,
what is in a face,
or what is hidden behind a face ? »
Pablo Picasso

Most portraits painted by Françoise Cauvin depict women. These women representations represent more than a third of her work, and this is not even counting the ones hidden in her mostly abstract works. But Françoise Cauvin did not undertake a conventional artistic endeavor of painting famous women or icons. Far ahead of her time, she portrays everyday women. They can be beautiful or imperfect, simple or complex, joyful, sad, or furious. These portraits capture the plurality of femininity at a time where women are still shackled to deeply rooted strictures.
« I am not making a portrait; I am making a painting » declared Matisse, who used unmixed colors. In the same vein, Françoise embraced this style, and instead of attempting to achieve realistic representations, gave free rein to her interpretation, thereby distancing herself from a work that would strive to please.

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