1976 Jacques Chesnel French Art Exhibition Lithograph. Printed in France on matte paper by Grapholith, Paris. Original 1970s vintage print.

Size: 27.2”H x 19.4”W.

Condition: Excellent condition with some minor faint age spots along the right side from natural age.

About the Artist - Jacques Chesnel

Jacques Chesnel, a versatile artist, was born in Lisieux in 1928 and passed away on September 13, 2021, in Caen at the age of 93. Initially an architect, Chesnel designed prominent buildings in Caen during the 1950s, such as the François-Baclesse center and the Hastings college. However, in 1973, he made a significant shift in his career and became a jazz critic for Jazz Magazine and Jazz Hot, also writing short stories and books on the subject.

Chesnel was deeply involved in the jazz scene, serving as a member of the Jazz Academy and later becoming the artistic advisor to the INA (National Audiovisual Institute). He contributed to Bordas Editions as a consultant for the jazz section of encyclopedias during the 1980s and 1990s. Simultaneously, he dedicated his passion for jazz to local projects, programming concerts and jazz festivals at the Café des Images.

Beyond his contributions to jazz, Jacques Chesnel was a passionate painter for over four decades, exhibiting his work in Normandy and Africa. His artistic journey evolved from abstract and collage techniques in the 1960s-1970s to more figurative styles in the late 1970s, culminating in series like "Les Dessous de Chesnel." In the 1980s, he transitioned his focus to jazz-themed paintings, creating portraits of jazz musicians he admired, including the series "John Coltrane."

Jacques Chesnel's impact on the jazz scene and his artistic legacy are celebrated through a retrospective exhibition at the La Teinturerie gallery in Caen, showcasing his diverse periods of painting from 1958 to 1998. The exhibition aims to honor Chesnel's contributions to both jazz and visual arts.