José NICOLAS (1956) - Lot 134

José NICOLAS (1956) Col du Chardonnet, 2015 Silver print Signed and titled Dimensions including margins : 40 x 50 cm Image size : 36 x 36 cm Note: In this photograph taken at the Col du Chardonnet, José Nicolas proposes a purified vision of the alpine landscape, where emptiness becomes a central element of the composition. The vast expanse of snow occupies most of the image, creating a silent, almost abstract space, punctuated only by a few scattered larches. Here, the artist plays on the reduction of forms and the simplicity of lines: the curve of the relief traces a subtle boundary between two spaces, while the trees, isolated or grouped together, introduce a discreet rhythm. The contrast of the silver print enhances the delicacy of the variations in white and gray, reinforcing the sensation of calm and stillness. With this work, José Nicolas adopts a minimalist approach to landscape, in which attention to emptiness, light and essential forms invites deep, almost meditative contemplation of the natural world.