Pictorial journey with Robert Semelle

This exhibition highlighted a selection of his oil on canvas works, inspired by six iconic towns in the region: La Londe-les-Maures, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Lavandou, Pierrefeu du Var, Collobrières, and Cuers.

Enriching this collection, Robert Semelle also presents paintings from his travels through Monténégro, Italie, Espagne, as well as landscapes from Drôme and Vaucluse.

SELF-TAUGHT Originally from Blois, this painter began his artistic career in 1966, near the château de Chambord. It was a sculptor of historical monuments who encouraged him to exhibit for the first time at the château de Blois between 1968 and 1970. "I met the right people at the right time, and it is thanks to my home town," he confides.

At the age of 22, Robert Semelle settled in Paris as a postal worker, a path which, according to him, shaped his artistic journey: "if I hadn't been a mailman, I would never have been a painter," he confides. Self-taught, he recorded his experiences in notebooks and photo albums documenting his exhibitions, his encounters, and his creations.

Robert Semelle exhibited at the Grand Palais in the early 1970s and settled in La Londe-les-Maures in 1983.

His taste for painting was awakened by a gift from his mother: a box of Lefranc et Bourgeois paints. His influences include the Impressionists and Salvador Dali, whose impact is noticeable in his colorful works, created with oil and palette knife.

"I use a very sharp spatula. The visitor needs to be able to enter the work, to walk through it," he specifies.

Each painting in the exhibition is accompanied by a commentary, allowing visitors to dive into the heart of the work. Robert Semelle hopes his audience can "walk through" his creations, an invitation to explore his landscapes and emotions.

Winner of several awards, Robert Semelle continues to enrich the artistic landscape with his unique vision and vibrant colors.