The movie is based on the true story of Séraphine Louis. She lived in the beginning of the 20th century in Sélis, France. She worked as a servant and laundry maid, but her true passion was painting. Séraphine had no training what so ever but started painting after her guardian angel instructs her to. Her work got discovered when art collector Wilhelm Uhde employs her as a housecleaner. Unfortunately, without telling too much about the movie, things don’t end well for her.
I had never heard of Séraphine Louis before and I was quite impressed with the work shown in the movie. The topic of her paintings is always nature but there is so much emotion and energy in it, it’s almost as if the leaves and flowers are going to jump of the paintings.
Her colours are also incredible. She actually made her own paint out of mud, blood, wax and everything else she could get her hands on.
If you have a chance to see the movie, definitely do. And if you happen to be in Paris soon, there’s an exhibition of her work in the Muséee Maillol until the beginning of january 2009. Might nip over myself…
All images from the official film site
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