A stunning Oil on Canvas of La Madeleine Church under the snow, with its well known flower market, by French Painter Charles Malle.
Born Charles Gleize in 1935 in Douai, in northern France—shortly before the war—he grew up in an environment of artisans and miners.
From the war, the Occupation, and the years that followed, he retained the memory, steeped in the unique atmosphere of the North of France, of a warm daily life, paced by the changing seasons.
The snow, the Christmas season, and Carnival seemed to him to belong to a magical realm within this “Black Country.”
That era, with its lifestyles and traditions deeply rooted in the rural world, akin to those depicted by Bruegel in his paintings, now feels very distant to us.
He suffered a profound shock upon the death of his father, when he was just 15 years old.
It was during this period that he began to paint and draw.
He truly began his formal artistic studies in Belgium, at the École des Beaux-Arts Saint-Luc in Tournai.
This allowed him to discover the treasures of Flemish art in local museums and led him to be deeply influenced by paintings of snowy landscapes populated by small figures going about their familiar daily tasks.
He continued his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles in Roubaix, from which he subsequently graduated.
After completing his military service, he embarked on a career as a teacher, however, his passion for art and antiques soon took hold, and he eventually left the profession.
He then began to travel, buying and reselling furniture and various objects, all while continuing to paint and draw.
The latter became his primary means of self-expression.
During the summer of 1955, he stayed in Spain, supporting himself by selling his paintings, which he exhibited at local markets.
His canvases sold well, albeit within a limited circle. In 1990, a Parisian gallery signed him to a contract.
Later, a second gallery joined forces to promote his work throughout the French provinces.
A number of solo exhibitions subsequently brought him wider recognition, and his works now grace the walls of major collections both in France and internationally.
His works depict a bygone era, one the artist loves to reminisce about or imagine, inviting us to reflect on the passage of time, which flows slowly like water, a motif so prevalent in his oeuvre.
The painter channels emotion through the filter of his own inner wanderings.
Like a waking dreamer, his work does not merely transcribe the reality surrounding us, but rather bears witness to that privileged period of life: childhood.
Charles Malle recalls the sense of wonder he felt as a very young boy when he first laid eyes on the sea in Normandy.
Later, during stays with one of his aunts, he discovered the Capital and from then on, Paris would become one of his signature themes.
His artistic universe exudes serenity, his color palette blends milky whites, oranges, rosy beiges, and pale greens and blues with the utmost refinement.
The bridges, riverbanks, and quays appear to float ever so slightly, while the ambient grayness metamorphoses into a comforting, soft embrace.
He underscores the key structural lines of his compositions with a dark stroke, emphasizing the verticality of streetlamps, tree trunks, and boat masts.
He passed away peacefully at his home in 2023, in a small village in the Meuse region, surrounded by his family.
Charles Malle once said, “I have two loves: Paris and painting.”
In this canvas, he has united these two passions, depicting the Place de la Madeleine in Paris along with the columns of the church of the same name.
As noted in his biography, snow scenes—populated with figures, were among his most cherished subjects.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that he mastered this genre with absolute perfection.
He brings to life the colorful characters within this crowd bustling through what appears to be the well known Flower Market of La Madeleine at Christmas.
He uses milky whites and rosy beiges to marvelous effect, capturing that atmosphere characteristic of damp winter weather, while punctuating his canvas here and there with warm hues to infuse the work with the life and joy that so aptly define this artist.
Charles Malle does not merely transcribe reality as it is; rather, he transcends it by drawing upon his childhood memories.
“When I paint, I am a child; I have fun like a kid,” he once declared.
A gentle serenity emanates from this painting, underscored by the refinement of its palette and the festive atmosphere it evokes.
A magnificent work, perfectly embodying the spirit of an artist who remained truly timeless.
Oil on canvas, signed in the lower right corner, set within a gilded and patinated wooden frame.
The reverse bears the stamp from the Charles Malle Studio Sale, as well as a handwritten inscription: “La Madeleine.”
Unframed: 15 x 22 inches
Framed: 22 x 28 inches