BERNARD JARDEL, OPTICAL SURREALISM

Bernard Jardel (1932-1984)

Born in 1932 in Paris, Bernard Jardel was a prominent figure in the abstract and optical art scene of the 1970s. Trained as an architect at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he merged technical rigor with artistic creativity. Although he worked as the commercial director for the family business, Ateliers de Construction Schwartz-Haumont, Jardel pursued a dual career by dedicating himself to painting with an intensity that left a lasting impact. This dual life, split between the industrial world and the art world, enriched his approach and defined his unique style, a style that led Victor Vasarely, the master of optical art, to label his work as “optical surrealism”.

A Unique Style at the Intersection of Architecture and Painting

Jardel’s work is defined by a distinctive visual language, where geometry and color play a central role. His background in architecture equipped him with a keen sense of structure, perspective, and light manipulation, which he translated into his compositions. His works revolve around repetitive geometric forms, creating kaleidoscopic effects and fascinating illusions of depth. Each canvas invites viewers into a world of “fantastic labyrinths”, as the press described them, where light and color interact to reveal unexpected perspectives. Jardel firmly rejected the use of mechanical processes, favoring a purely handcrafted approach. His work, influenced by Bauhaus principles, diverges by emphasizing the human and sensitive aspects of each piece, created with an uncompromising dedication to his craft.

Artistic Recognition and Prestigious Exhibitions

Jardel’s career took off in the 1970s, when he began exhibiting regularly in France and internationally. His works garnered the attention of prestigious Parisian galleries and influential collectors. In 1971, he exhibited alongside Yvaral (Jean-Pierre Vasarely), the son of Victor Vasarely, in Saint-Tropez, where they explored “the fascinating world of pure research” in art. In 1975, his first exhibition in Brussels at Galerie Govaerts was well received by critics, who praised his use of geometry and color in service of painting. Jardel also exhibited in Japan, including in Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Osaka, solidifying his international reputation.

In Paris, he showcased his work at renowned salons such as the Salon d’Automne and the Salon des Grands et Jeunes d’Aujourd’hui, where his pieces stood out for their visual impact and technical precision. Jardel became a prominent figure in abstract art, pushing the boundaries of optical perception and transforming shapes into living entities. Audiences at each exhibition were captivated by the complexity and depth of his work, which blended abstraction and realism in a play of perception and perspective.

Acclaimed by the Press

Jardel’s work captured the media’s attention, earning coverage in various art and finance publications. His paintings were regularly featured in renowned journals and magazines such as Paris Match, Le Revenu Français, and Jours de France. These publications celebrated his unique vision and artistic dedication. Known as the “brush of the rich” due to the elegance of his work, his creations appealed to high-profile art collectors and figures from the business and cultural spheres, including Louis Ducatel, Jean-Claude Brialy, and Alain Delon. Jardel’s artworks, exhibited alongside pieces by other celebrated artists, managed to stand out through their distinctive character and powerful aesthetic.

A Masterful Technique and Subtle Palette

Jardel mainly worked with acrylic on large canvases, using a subtle palette of cool blues, browns, and purples. This color choice reinforced the optical effect and enhanced the contrast between geometric shapes, playing with viewers’ perceptions. His meticulous approach allowed him to convey emotion, even within abstract compositions. Each piece was a study of light, volume, and texture, where every line and color was carefully chosen to create visual harmony.

An Artistic Legacy Continued Through Remastering

Although Bernard Jardel passed away in 1984, his artistic legacy lives on. His son Alecse, also an artist and founder of the Myretroposter gallery, has undertaken the remastering of some of his works to make them accessible to a new generation of art lovers and design enthusiasts. These re-editions help preserve Jardel’s vision and celebrate the timeless quality of his creations. Myretroposter will soon offer these iconic pieces, true treasures of abstract art, allowing a broader audience to rediscover the world of Bernard Jardel—a world where geometric rigor meets fascinating optical effects.

This remastering project gives Bernard Jardel a renewed presence, bringing his works to a global audience and extending the memory of an artist whose contributions to abstract and optical art remain invaluable.