Olivier Meriel Secrets du Pays d'Ouche /anglais

For most Americans, Normandy, France is exclusively associated with the historical landings of troops in WWII. But the region of Normandy, located directly across the English Channel from the British Isles and originally part of ancient Gaul, has a far deeper. more layered history. The native character of the land is upheld by two pillars, agriculture and religion. These two are almost perfectly symbolized by trees, for the former and stones, for the latter. Meriel seems to have come to this realization early on, and the body of work presented here is a carefully balanced portrayal of these two intimately connected icons. While there is clearly no explicit narrative, there is a pleasant meandering that occurs as one turns the pages. The forests and hillsides, first shrouded in mist and then bathed in sunlight, give way to country lanes and walled gardens dotted with apple trees, lopsided barns, and rambling creeks. The discovery of artist studios and gothic churches provide a portfolio of interior and courtyard views, which then give way to another sequence of landscapes. Throughout, Meriel creates a sense of mystery and foreboding by giving attention to the darker end of the spectrum, printing rich blacks and burning in skies in order to dramatize clouds. The overall result lends the work a late-19th century feel with a modern sensibility.