José NICOLAS (1956) - Lot 377

José NICOLAS (1956) The Briançonnais Saint Cristol, 2016 Silver print Size: 36 x 36 cm Dimensions with passe partout : 50 x 50 cm Dirt on mat Note: In this view of the Briançonnais, José Nicolas follows in the tradition of black-and-white landscape photography, in which the mountain becomes both physical and mental matter. True to his contemplative approach, the artist favors a photographic style based on structure, light and depth rather than anecdote. The foreground, dominated by massive boulders, imposes an almost tactile presence. These rugged forms serve as a visual threshold, anchoring the gaze before drawing it into the background, where the mountain range unfolds in successive strata. This shot-by-shot construction accentuates the sense of space and gives the image an immersive dimension. The sky, laden with sculptural clouds, dialogues with the mineral relief and contributes to the drama of the scene. The contrast of the silver print reveals the richness of the textures - rocks, slopes, glaciers - and reinforces the monumentality of the landscape, while retaining a great finesse in the grays. The overall effect is one of silence and timelessness, characteristic of José Nicolas' work, in which the landscape becomes both a real place and a space of inner projection.