“That acceptance of hardship explains everything. The painter from Nendaz is not a delinquent, he’s a wretch…he’s only comfortable when hidden away and around lowly people, around those who do not have to embark upon a long spiritual journey to understand him.”
JEAN GIONO
Le Déserteur © Gallimard
The Deserter created more than 30 Nativity scenes with multiple characters, and with a carefully considered composition.
THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD J.C. AND THE ADORATION OF THE MAGIS.
Pierre, Joseph Bourband and Anne, Marguerite Löye his wife, both from the village of La Cerise at Haute-Nendaz asked for this image in their house on the 17th of the month of
September of Our Lord, 1857. C.F.B.
47 x 63 cm. © Robert Hofer, Sion
Note the presence of the tambourine, a prominent feature of the imagery of Provence and of Epinal.
PATOIS
In the local patois, Christmas is referred to as Tsaïnde
What is a signature for, is it an identity? Is it a trace of your origin? A mark of your personality?
If you wanted to put colour to a drawing traced out in grey pencil and you are surrounded by nature with nothing, no paints and no coloured pencils, what would you do?