Triptyque du Dragon 1967

Jean Helion’s Triptyque du Dragon is an oil painting that's doing something interesting with the way it uses colour. Helion isn't trying to trick your eye, instead, he's laying down these big areas of colour, and letting them do their thing. There’s a kind of urban theatre going on here, with all these characters and implied narratives playing out. But what grabs me is how Helion uses those blues. They're not just descriptive; they're emotional, creating a cool, almost detached vibe. And then he throws in these yellows. Look at the accordion, how it glows and pops against the blues. It's like a little burst of energy. The gestures are broad, almost clumsy, but somehow they capture the essence of each figure. It reminds me a bit of Léger, but with a stranger, more personal twist. What's cool about painting is that we're always talking to each other, even across time. It's a never-ending conversation. And like any good conversation, it's full of surprises and contradictions.