Who is Blanche Odin?

 The life of Blanche Odin passes from the nineteenth to the twentieth century.  Born in 1865 in Troyes, she died in Bagnères de Bigorres in 1954.
Her work did not show anything of the upheavals of history.  An end of the century inspiration, half-lights inside a church falling on rose petals, Blanche Odin remained faithful all her life to this particular climate contrary to contemporary sensitivity... 
However when we look at her watercolours the feeling of something exceptional is essential.  It is thanks to the watercolour that the magic takes place. 
Can one paint like that with watercolour?  And on such formats (some exceed two meters)?  Yes, it is possible...  Or rather:  she only can do it...  It is about an exception, something absolutely unique.  The power of her temperament, the rigour of living drawing applied to the structure of the flowers, the intensity of these pigments, the diffusion of light, everything contributes to transcend her own conventions. 
Such were my emotions at the time of a visit to the Museum Salies in Bagnères de Bigorre, rich with the works of this great watercolours painter in watercolours.  A retrospective of the complete collection of her watercolours is planned in this museum from June 1 to October 31, 2006. 
Information:
Salies Museum, Bagnères de Bigorre
Contact : 05 62 91 07 26