Soulages, in a new light

We were bursting with excitement — and now it’s finally here! The new exhibition Une autre lumière showcases no fewer than 130 works by Pierre Soulages at the Musée du Luxembourg, from September 17 to January 11. The father of Outrenoir unveils his fascinating paintings on paper, rarely exhibited and yet essential to his artistic journey. An immersive walk through the heart of his art, allowing visitors to rediscover Soulages in a whole new light.

The Absolute Master of Dark Light

Three years after his passing at the age of 102, Soulages is celebrated in a fresh new way. It’s impossible to think of this master of painting without picturing his striking, vibrant black canvases. Yet the artist’s work began in 1946 on paper, with his walnut stain works, already standing apart from the abstract art of the time.

This unprecedented retrospective, a true gateway into a body of work long kept by the artist, tells a story, raises questions, and sheds light (pun intended). Between broad, powerful strokes, walnut stain, unexpected pops of blue, and even an immersive virtual reality experience, time flies without you even noticing.

A Classic, Seen in a New Light

We love it for its immersive, fascinating, and hypnotic journey, which will delight both art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike: Une autre lumière is already shaping up to be the must-see exhibition of the season. Known worldwide for his monumental Outrenoir canvases, few realize that his work actually began on paper.Between walnut stain, gouache, and ink, visitors can admire his play with transparency, opacity, and above all, the light he discovers even within darkness.

Same DNA, but a different medium: these paintings feature bold, dark strokes that create a striking contrast with the white of the paper. We love the unexpected pop of blue on one of the last works, right before the exit — the perfect way to end the visit! Black is black… but not for Soulages, who became the absolute master of luminous darkness.

The Bonus? The Outrenoir virtual reality experience, created by artist Gordon and narrated by the divine Isabelle Huppert, can be viewed Friday to Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (late opening on Monday until 10 p.m.). It offers a total immersion into the evolution of Soulages’ influences and his work.

Soulages, Une autre lumière – From September 17 to January 11. Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Late opening on Mondays until 10:00 p.m. Closed on December 25. Special openings on December 24 and 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Full price €14, reduced price €10. Free for visitors aged 16–25, by reservation only and subject to availability.