Thierry Duval

About Thierry Duval

Hyperreal Paris and Venice, washed in poetic light

Thierry Duval is a French watercolorist born in 1959.

“I hope to be a sensitive and precise observer of nature and the city, careful to account for the slightest variations in light.”

Thierry Duval’s work is the result of a clever mix between hyperrealism and the poetry of the place represented, and his watercolors of urban scenes restore the historical beauties of Paris or Venice, but also their unusual and mysterious sides, capturing the subtle variations of light in each scene.

Thierry Duval graduated in Decorative Arts in 1982 and worked as an illustrator and then as a creative in a large Parisian advertising agency, but he has painted since childhood, and in 1990 a great Italian restaurant in Paris commissioned him to make pastel copies of paintings by the Renaissance painter Raphael, which inspired his taste for academic painting.

Thierry Duval discovered the work of the painter Delacroix while preparing for the entrance examination for Decorative Arts in Paris, and from there his passion for watercolor came to him, and he has continued to work on his technique, achieving an unusual strength in colors and lights and a drawing of high precision that gives his work an unusual realism.

Thierry Duval’s watercolors include views of Paris, capturing the beauty of the Seine quays at dawn, shining roofs in the rain, the light that filters under bridges, markets, cafes, and bookshops, like so many enchanted, sweet, and dreamy parentheses that honor Paris as the most romantic city in the world.

Thierry Duval’s work reflects his deep appreciation for the great masters of painting, and his unique style combines hyperrealism with a poetic sensibility, making him one of the most distinctive watercolorists working today, celebrated for his ability to capture the essence of the places he paints.

• Born in 1959 in France.
• Graduated in Decorative Arts in 1982.
• He was commissioned to copy Raphael’s paintings for a Parisian restaurant in 1990.
• His passion for watercolor came from discovering Delacroix’s work.
• His work combines hyperrealism with poetic interpretation.

Thierry Duval’s watercolors are celebrated for their unusual realism and their ability to capture the subtle variations of light, and his work has been featured in collections and exhibitions, making him a respected figure in the world of contemporary watercolor painting.

Art Category Fact: Watercolor painting is a medium in which pigments are suspended in a water-based solution, and it is known for its transparency and ability to create luminous effects, with a long history dating back to ancient times, and it has been used by artists such as J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and John Singer Sargent, who pushed the boundaries of the medium with bold washes and expressive brushwork.

“Art is the most beautiful of all lies.” Claude Debussy

You can see more of Thierry’s Paris and Venice watercolors on his official website, aquarl-duval.com.