Charles Matton was a visionary artist with the spirit of a fascinated miniature-maker. As a self-professed “creator of images,” Matton utilized sketches, paintings, sculptures, and films in an enduring journey to reveal and magnify the essence of his beloved subjects for all to behold. His works were inspired by the early European tradition of handmade cabinet houses and the optical illusions found within 17th-century Dutch perspective boxes. His interiors, both real and imagined, defy modern categorization, imbuing a sense of magic and wonder. Detailed yet enchanting models evoke a child-like fascination with all things tiny, meticulously crafted, and make-believe.
Born in 1933, Mr. Matton first displayed his work in his hometown of Paris in the early 1960s before pursuing a career in magazine illustration and book publishing. While working for Esquire Magazine and other French publications in New York (at times), he continued to create art for himself and a select group of collectors. In 1983, he resurfaced as an artist and in 2002, Forum Gallery New York presented his first American exhibit. He regularly exhibited his work until his passing in 2008.
Mr. Matton’s expertise in lighting and spatial depth is a prominent hallmark of his art. Mirrors are strategically placed to create a seemingly endless depth of space. Meticulously crafted sets, composed of cast and carved resin, continue into an intangible distance. The mirrors’ reflections, augmented by the speculum effect, produce an illusion of expansive landscapes. The end result is a world reflected in a looking-glass, as ornate and fanciful as Carroll’s White Knight mounted on his upside-down box.
Many of Mr. Matton’s creations are faithful reproductions of revered locations, such as Sigmund Freud’s study and Marcel Proust’s library, imbuing them with an air of reverence and pilgrimage.
www.ftn-books.com has one Matton title available.
