Michel Matthonat

Michel MATHONNAT burner, lithographer.

Born in Moulins in 1944, he began painting in 16 years and then joined the School of Fine Art in mills 18 years.

In 1967, he worked in the workshops Rigal in Paris and Cadaquès, working increasingly drawing, printmaking and watercolor.

He discovered burning in color and aquatint, he affectionates process.

From 1971, he began writing to the black, allowing it, for a long and meticulous work of cradle to play with between shadow and light.

Wanting to further his research he will make his plans according cradles and combs suited to its very personal way to burn, perfectly controlled in the illustration of the book.

His first book "Happiness of the day", unpublished poems by Jean Cassou, frontispiece of Salvador Dali. , was illustrated in 1969, published by the association of Bibliophile "Impénitents", and submitted to the bookstore Nicaise.

In 1971 it is the poetry of Leopold Sedar Senghor which inspired his imagination, with the album "Black is Beautiful."

His burned more than 300 etchings, lithographs some many illustrated books, mixture of different techniques linked inventivement: dry point, chisel, heavy water, how pencil and mezzotint (Black Way).

In addition to his work in printmaking, he paints, draws and from 1975, carries small bronze sculpture that melts at the cire-perdue, and works in Italy by Venturi in Bologna.

In 1984, he was passionate about the technique in how to pencil and produces prints with stunning rendition of his drawings at the mine lead and colored pencil.

One constant in his work, the quality of its work, its style of classicism, where nothing is left to chance at ease.

His art inseparable from the art is the expression of a certain beauty and aesthetic plastic.