Three Fruits

Isabelle Proust

Isabelle Proust was trained as a photographer and developed an interest in European frescoes, which inspired her imagery in other media. She was born in France on April 28, 1963. According to Proust she was "interested in photography since an early age. I started my art career exploring the human expressions of angst in large format black and white prints reworked with different materials… I extended this search investigating the technique of buon fresco. Self-taught in that discipline I worked my way in through trial and error and some luck; “butchering” the proper way of doing frescoes, I am forcing this ancient form of art in a more contemporary style. Layering and distressing the texture are part of keeping the effect of time that passes, the feel of dreamlike longing.”

In 2006 Proust began pursuing printmaking, focusing on drypoint and monoprint. Her technique currently explores the merging of the two mediums, in which she inks the final plate with differing ink patterns. This style complements her subject matter, which often references dreams and ancient histories to create layered, delicate imagery. Proust divides her time between France and the United States.

"Three Fruits " merges two media to create her unique color prints. Starting with an intaglio process, drypoint, she sketches a repeatable image on the matrix. When printing the impression she hand paints the surface of the plate uniquely as a monoprint.