Equilibre 1936

Jean Helion made this painting, Equilibre, with oil on canvas sometime in the 20th century. I love to think about what was going through his head, as he built up this composition. The forms are laid out flat, like a collage. The colors are muted but clear, and the shapes are interlocking, like a puzzle. The title, Equilibre, or Balance, suggests the artist was interested in harmony and tension. He wasn't trying to represent anything in particular, yet the painting feels like a space with objects in it. Do you get that feeling too? Helion’s painting is, to me, a reminder that art is not about perfection, but about the journey of discovery. The best paintings are like a conversation, where artists build upon each other's ideas, creating something new and unexpected.