A keen researcher, for over 25 years, Claude Dubois has undertaken a minute and
thorough work, leading him to unceasing evolution.The numerous prizes he has been
awarded are here to prove it.Most of the works hung at Michellotti's are recent ( 1980-
1988 ), but since 1963 he has been working on a new technique that is properly his
own,viz the subjects f his oils and particulary his watercolours are atomized in the
manner of a mosaic into a great number of squares whose shapes and, of course,
shades differ widelly,hus displaying the variety ofhis chosen topics to advantage,
ollowing the rules of a chromatic code, stirring colour and light interplays.
Curiously enough, he was 25 years ahead of his time as he made up a kind of
" picture digitalization ", the one our video technicians are so keen of.Delightful
as it is from afar, the result is also quite pleasant when one draws nearer the painting,
from this wonderful child portrait : Sophie's hat ( oil ) to this warming On a walking
Spree at the Rue de Rome, not neglecting this New York Artefact ( watercolour )
where neons are playfully reflected in the water of a fountain.We also goa growing
tour : The Alternative in a sun scorched bull fighting arena, these Andalusian Landscapes,
this Quai de Belges with this woman passing by with an umbrella, or these chrysantheama
set in an invisible geometrical network, placed in a tin pot.We suddenly find ourselves in a
surrealistic setting : scission in Space before returning to a more conventional wok
displaying the brown silhouette of a shepherd with this dog, drawn from life.His new
watercolours show a new technique : he puts colour directly on his canvas, without a
previous pencil drawn sketch, omitting no details.He draws with accuracy, surely with a
great evolutive strengh. " I'm now working on combining lines and volumes... ", he says.
We can trust him : he can still amaze and seduce us.

Micheline Deville

La cote des arts, Marseille, January 15-February 15, 1989.