Skip to main content
Washington University in St. Louis
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts

Create an account to add artworks to your personal collections.

Enter your email address below to recieve an email to reset your password.

An email has been sent to your inbox to reset your password.

image alt

Jean Hélion

Rouge Brillant

1938

On View in Gertrude Bernoudy Gallery, Room 4

image alt
1 / 1

The French artist Jean Hélion was a founding member, together with Theo Van Doesburg, of the geometric abstraction group Art Concret in 1930; the group was later succeeded by Abstraction- Création. Rouge Brillant was developed during this period and shows a cautiously balanced composition consisting of bold red, orange, blue, and yellow forms that command attention. Some forms are flat, others more modular. Angular brushstrokes create a striking interplay of shapes and textures, evoking a sense of movement. The deliberate use of diagonals and intersecting curved lines adds a dynamic tension to the composition. Within this abstract arrangement, viewers can discern fragmented forms that suggest urban landscapes or architectural elements.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Hélion also wrote extensively about art and his experiences. His book They Shall Not Have Me (1943) chronicles his time as a prisoner during World War II, including his capture by the Germans in 1940 and his successful escape and subsequent arrival in the United States in 1942. [Permanent collection label, 2023]

  • Artist Jean Hélion (French, 1904–1987)
  • Title Rouge Brillant
  • Date 1938
  • Medium Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions unframed | 46 3/16 x 35 1/4 in.
  • Credit line University purchase, Kende Sale Fund, 1946
  • Object number WU 3777
  • Currently on View Gertrude Bernoudy Gallery, Room 4

Artists in Exile: European Surrealists in the US during and after World War II
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University in St. Louis, 09/01/2023

Picasso to Pollock: H.W. Janson and the Legacy of Modern Art at Washington University in St. Louis
Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum (San Antonio, Texas), 08/17/2004 - 10/24/2004

Opening Exhibition of Mark C. Steinberg Memorial Hall
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University in St. Louis, 04/29/1960

H. W. Janson and the Legacy of Modern Art 2002

1946
Paul Rosenberg and Co., New York

This artwork record may be incomplete or need refinement. Our staff actively researches the collection and revises records when new information is available. If you have questions or comments about this record, please contact us.

Related Content

go to Picasso to Pollock: H.W. Janson and the Legacy of Modern Art at Washington University in St. Louis page
no image
Exhibitions

Picasso to Pollock: H.W. Janson and the Legacy of Modern Art at Washington University in St. Louis

August 17, 2004–October 24, 2004
go to Opening Exhibition of Mark C. Steinberg Memorial Hall page
no image
Exhibitions

Opening Exhibition of Mark C. Steinberg Memorial Hall

April 29, 1960
go to Artists in Exile: European Surrealists in the US during and after World War II page
2015_0002a-ppp
Exhibitions

Artists in Exile: European Surrealists in the US during and after World War II

September 01, 2023

Image Reproduction Request Form

To request image materials and/or permission to reproduce a work of art from the Museum's collection, please complete and submit the form below. The information you provide here will enable us to process your request and assess the appropriate images, permissions, and any applicable fees. 

Typically, image requests that do not require new photography can be completed within three weeks. Whenever possible, rush orders may be accommodated, although additional fees may apply.

If you have questions, please contact Kristin Good, associate registrar, at kristin.good@wustl.edu.

Checking this box constitutes a legal signature. By checking this box, the applicant agrees to abide by all terms and conditions under which permission is granted to reproduce works of art in the collection of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, and that permission is contingent upon payment of any applicable fees.

* Required fields

test View details