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Just as Place du Tertre does, the Honfleur Port draws in crowds of highly and not so highly talented painters of any leanings who work under the respectful or simply interested scrutiny of tourists in love with picturesque Normandy.
A watercolourist, Jean-Louis Thibaut would not let his fascination for the port deprive him of picturing with brio all the other splendid areas in Eugene Boudin's native town. He has his studio there in which brilliant watercolours are born under his rare quality, hyperrealist brush. The truth is Jean-Louis Thibaut is not just any painter as he graduated from Ecole Boulle and Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs de Paris. His works are on show inrenowned exhibitions and galleries both in Normandy and in Paris and raise great interest from the Art market abroad.
I must admit that I am amazed by his watercolours, not only because of their technical quality and perfection in the motifs' details, but also because they convey life and poetry within reality magic. The portraits and landscapes never look like fixed photographs and Jean-Louis Thibaut provides them with an alternative light, unusual vibrations and peaceful but sparkling energy that delight both the eyes and the mind.
André Ruellan
Hyperrealism is sometimes said to favour technique to the detriment of sensation. A watercolour virtuoso, Jean-Louis Thibault gives a completely different meaning to his work than that of a race to feat. It is emotion he is interested in. Whether painting on the motif or from a photograph, he immerses himself to the soul into the subject his hand will gradually transfigure and he imitates reality up to the point the viewers are deceived. Here is a portrait of an artist in love with life.
Jean-Louis Thibaut enjoys living among objects that remind him of the good old times. A rather discreet and reserved person he admits (as if apologizing) to "a little unsociable nature". This romantic gives special attention to simple people such as peasants, gardeners, fishermen or passers-by, that is characters who are anonymous but rich with real-life experience. He even goes so far as to reproduce a 1949 classroom photograph in the form of a splendid black and white wash drawing enhanced with Prussian blue. Guessing which is the face of the artist then becomes an entertaining game.
With his Breton fisherman looks Jean-Louis Thibaut is attached to seaside motifs and is second to none when it comes to restore the architecture of the great dream sailing ships such as the Amerigo Vaspucci which he portrayed in the most startling way. He has a remarkable passion for nature and declares himself much attached to the Cotantirr seaside and the Chausey islands which are a dreamers' paradise. Nonetheless, he has no pre-conceived ideas in mind when about to start painting and he may just as well work on a rural setting or on the most moving portrait of all, depending on the day's inspiration or mood. Sometimes the subject comes up again several months later. His proven glaze technique has reached a rare degree of perfection and his skill at drawing serves him under any circumstances. One can only admire such dexterity.
Luis PORQUET, october 2004
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