Collector's Notes, Featured Works
In Focus: Paul-Louis Bolot (1918–2003)
Some paintings don’t shout. They don’t need to. They offer instead a quiet kind of brilliance – confident colour, loose but thoughtful line work, and subjects that make you feel like you’ve walked into a scene just as something worth noticing has happened.
That’s the feeling we had when we came across the work of Paul-Louis Bolot, a French modernist whose paintings have become a quiet favourite in our gallery. Millie recently shared one of his pieces over on our Instagram, but we wanted to take a moment here to go a little deeper.
1960s French Post‑Impressionist Landscape, signed and dated
An arresting oil painting of a Provence scene—bold ochres and vivid cobalt blues that feel both timeless and alive. This work captures the essence of natural light and country calm, perfect for anchoring a living room or serene study.
Who Was Paul-Louis Bolot?
Born in Seignelay, Burgundy in 1918, Bolot trained at the prestigious École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in the mid-1930s. His early studies coincided with a pivotal era in European art, and in the post-war years he found himself aligned with the Groupe Espace — an avant-garde movement that included figures like Victor Vasarely, Fernand Léger, and Sonia Delaunay. The group championed abstraction and harmony between art, architecture, and modern life.
Bolot’s own work resists strict categorisation. It moves freely between styles: from post-Impressionist landscapes, to cubist-inspired figures, to still lifes and florals rendered in gouache with spontaneous charm. What unites it all is a clear joy in form and colour – and a knack for capturing everyday scenes with emotional depth.
He exhibited at the Salon d’Automne in Lyon, and continued to show in Paris and London galleries throughout the mid-20th century. Many of his works are signed and dated, often naming the location where they were painted — grounding them in time and place.
French Modernist Gouache Painting: Flowers in a Vase (Pink and Orange Geraniums
A bright, expressive gouache with summer florals in vibrant coral and pink — a pop of joy for modern interiors.
What Caught Our Eye
At Stag Gallery, we’re always looking for work that feels alive – that brings character into a room, or gives you a reason to pause. Bolot’s paintings do that in spades. There’s something in the looseness of his line, the colour choices, the simplicity of his subjects – a kind of elegance that doesn’t shout, but stays with you.
There’s also a wonderful relevance to how people live with art today. Bolot’s work suits spaces that want a pop of life, a personal touch, something thoughtful. His florals and portraits bring softness; his abstracted figures, conversation; his landscapes, calm.
He also works beautifully in groups. A pair of gouaches above a console. A single mid-century oil anchoring a dining space. These are pieces that adapt.
The Piano Duet – Modernist Interior Scene
Depicting two figures at an upright piano, this work blends music, domesticity, and modernist geometry. The breezy linework and gentle tones offer rhythm and warmth—perfect beside a mantel or in a cosy corner.
Explore More
For those who first encountered Bolot through our Instagram, we hope this has offered a fuller sense of the artist. And for those meeting him here for the first time – welcome to a quietly compelling body of work that we’re proud to represent.
Explore the collection: Here
If you’d like to see more, arrange a viewing, or get advice on placing Bolot in your own space, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
