Serpent de mer 1955

Rene Duvillier made this ink drawing, Serpent de mer, in 1953. It’s an elegant, linear creation in shades of purple and black. Imagine Duvillier holding his brush, maybe a sigh before he begins, and then the first stroke—bold, confident, yet playful. This isn’t just a drawing of a sea serpent; it's a dance of lines. The ink is thinly applied, allowing the white of the paper to breathe, giving the serpent a sense of lightness and movement. There's an unexpected touch of dark green that emerges throughout the figure, adding depth to the purple and black. The lines are fluid, almost calligraphic, evoking a sense of rhythm, like the movement of water. I wonder if Duvillier was thinking of Matisse’s line drawings? I bet those artists are having a great conversation together. Like all great painters, Duvillier embraces uncertainty, encouraging us to see something new each time we look.