Les Tulipes 1928

Georges Valmier made this painting, Les Tulipes, with oil on canvas, and the smooth, opaque colors are laid on the canvas with clarity and a deliberate sense of process. The flat planes of color create a push-pull effect, making you feel like you’re looking at both a still life and an abstract puzzle at the same time. I keep coming back to the black lines snaking across the surface. They feel both totally arbitrary and completely necessary, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise geometric composition. It’s almost as if Valmier is saying, “Hey, let’s not take this too seriously, art should be fun!” This playfulness reminds me of some of Joan Miró’s work. Both artists share a love for simple shapes, bold colors, and a sense of childlike wonder. Ultimately, Les Tulipes isn’t about definitive answers. Instead, it’s an invitation to embrace the joy of seeing, thinking, and feeling in new ways.