The Galerie Breteuil at Maison Osenat in Paris recently hosted the opening of "Un trait de liberté," a major exhibition showcasing the expressive charcoal works of Gilone de Clermont-Tonnerre. The event drew an intimate crowd of Parisian art collectors, aristocrats, and cultural figures eager to witness the latest presentation from an artist who spent three decades as a faithful collaborator with Point de Vue magazine. Her charcoal drawings, described by critics as raw bursts of creative energy, commanded attention throughout the elegantly appointed gallery space. The exhibition marks a significant milestone in the career of an artist who has consistently challenged conventional boundaries in contemporary French art.
Gilone de Clermont-Tonnerre's journey to artistic prominence began with rigorous training across Europe, including studies in Madrid and Oxford, as well as apprenticeship under the renowned painter Mac Avoy. This diverse educational background provided her with traditional technical skills that she would later deliberately deconstruct in pursuit of her own visual language. For thirty years, she served Point de Vue as both the author of the "Quelles enchères" column and the illustrator of the publication's heraldic crests, work that honed her precision while simultaneously fueling her desire for expressive freedom. Her aristocratic heritage, connected to marshals and princes of the Empire, positioned her uniquely within France's complex social and artistic landscape.
The artist's mastery of charcoal distinguishes her within the contemporary art world, as she transforms this ancient medium into a vehicle for profound emotional expression. Collector Marco Benagli observes that "Gilone's charcoals obey nothing," highlighting her refusal to submit to academic constraints. Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Osenat, the master of ceremonies at the auction house, describes her work as "a musical drawing of nature," emphasizing the rhythmic, almost symphonic quality of her mark-making. Her large-format compositions create powerful, dreamlike interior worlds where viewers lose themselves as if in reverie, navigating the delicate balance between shadow and light that defines her aesthetic vision.
The exhibition itself features an array of substantial works that demonstrate her command of scale and atmosphere. Each piece emerges like a breath, a spontaneous gesture that imposes itself with brilliant clarity despite its apparent rawness. The gallery's lighting carefully accentuates the velvety depths of her charcoal blacks while preserving the subtle gradations that give her forms their living quality. Visitors encounter works that range from abstract landscapes to figurative suggestions, all unified by the artist's distinctive hand and her ability to infuse monochrome surfaces with extraordinary vitality. The presentation allows ample space between pieces, encouraging contemplation of each work's individual power.
The opening reception exemplified the intersection of France's aristocratic heritage and its vibrant contemporary art scene. Notable attendees included Princess Leïla Murat, a descendant of Napoleonic marshals, who attended alongside her sister Laure Boulay de La Meurthe and Yseult Boulay de La Meurthe. The event also attracted Baron and Baronne Jérôme Reille, Baron and Baronne Gilles Ameil, and numerous figures from the fashion and business worlds, including Kasia Zaleska, a leather goods stylist at Chanel. Publishers, mediums, communication directors, and auction house executives mingled among the artworks, creating a dynamic social tapestry that mirrored the layered complexity of Gilone's drawings.
This exhibition represents more than a simple retrospective; it affirms Gilone de Clermont-Tonnerre's position as a significant voice in contemporary French art. Her ability to transform humble charcoal into a medium of transcendent expression speaks to both technical virtuosity and deep artistic courage. As the art world increasingly embraces digital and conceptual practices, her commitment to traditional materials used in revolutionary ways offers a compelling alternative path forward. "Un trait de liberté" will remain on view through the end of the month, providing ample opportunity for both seasoned collectors and new audiences to discover the passionate universe of an artist who continues to redefine the possibilities of drawing.
