At 79 years old, Michel Gauthier stands as a rare master of traditional painting techniques, particularly those of 17th and 18th-century Flemish and Dutch artists. The accomplished painter from Nandy is currently presenting his latest exhibition at Galerie 39 in Barbizon, running from August 11 to August 24, 2025. His expertise in these classical techniques represents what he calls "a rare competence" in today's art world.
Gauthier's journey into professional painting began after his retirement in 2001 from his position as chief of radiology at Rothschild Hospital in Paris. Despite harboring dreams of painting since age 18, he had been discouraged by his parents who wanted him to pursue a more traditional career path. "My parents didn't want me to get involved in the artistic world, they wanted me to do a more traditional job," he recalls. However, meeting his wife changed everything for the aspiring artist.
The pivotal moment came when his wife, of Flemish origin, took him to the city of Bruges and its museums. It was love at first sight for the artist, who became captivated by Dutch and Flemish painters and their traditional techniques. This encounter sparked his passion for the mathematical principle that would become central to his artistic practice: the golden ratio.
Gauthier has become particularly enamored with the golden ratio, also known as "phi" (ϕ), a mysterious number approximately equal to 1.618 that appears throughout nature, art, and architecture since ancient times. "We say that a form or proportion follows the golden ratio when it respects a certain balance considered particularly harmonious," the artist explains. Famous examples include Leonardo da Vinci's use of the golden ratio and the builders of Greek temples. Even in nature, this ratio appears in the arrangement of flower petals and the spirals of seashells. "The golden ratio is a bit like the mathematical recipe for beauty," he affirms.
Gauthier's mastery hasn't gone unnoticed in prestigious art circles. He speaks with a smile when recounting his proudest moment: "I remember it as if it were yesterday. My most beautiful anecdote is probably receiving the Vermeil medal from the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters of Paris." While exhibiting his paintings at the Carrousel du Louvre, the academy's president was reportedly left speechless by one of his works and presented him with this honor. During his medal ceremony in 2017, he was the only artist in France using the golden ratio technique.
The artist admits he doesn't always employ the golden ratio in his work, but when he does, the results are striking. "I don't always use it," he confides, "sometimes I don't. But I notice that whenever I do, 90% of people stop in front of my paintings without realizing it. It's quite impressive." Another rare technique he employs is the magnifying glass method, which involves using a magnifying glass to refine a work or add even more detailed elements.
Such precise techniques require considerable time and meticulous attention to detail. Gauthier's paintings don't take three days to complete but rather three weeks, which is why painting has become his primary activity. His dedication has paid off internationally – to date, he has sold 335 paintings out of 363 created, leaving him with 28 canvases remaining. "I'm also sold internationally. In China, the United States, Canada, Denmark," he notes. In 2019, a Chinese movie star even purchased one of his paintings.
Visitors can experience Gauthier's mastery firsthand at his current exhibition in Barbizon, located at Galerie 39 on Grande Rue. The gallery is open daily from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM through August 24, 2025, with free admission. "I'll be there if needed," the artist concludes, ready to share his passion for traditional techniques and the mathematical beauty of the golden ratio with art enthusiasts.
