GIBRAT Lot n° 5

JEAN-PIERRE GIBRAT MATTÉO Sixième époque (1939-1940) (T.6), Futuropolis 2022 Original plate no. 11. Signed. Watercolor and acrylic inks on paper 36.2 × 47.4 cm (14.25 × 18.66 in.) Jean-Pierre Gibrat comments: "When a story offers the possibility, instead of depicting the recipient of a letter reading it - and letting the reader of the album benefit from this - I prefer to focus on the writing stage." Hence this perfectly composed plate. The frontispiece is a slightly low-angle Tower Bridge, whose towers seem to be anchored in the pub's windows. This is one of Jean-Pierre Gibrat's favorite narrative devices, and we'll see it again in these works. Next, a sequence of three perfectly paced vertical boxes: does this pub correspond to the setting Amélie is looking for? She thinks about what she's going to write, and finally Amélie writes her message. Note that this last, most intimate phase is discreetly viewed by the artist and her reader through the pub window. As for the sheet metal gas mask case, a reminder that the UK is still at war, it rests discreetly opposite Amélie's handbag.