Joseph Rethlin.

**Contemporary Painter**

From jewellery photography to painting, art has been a constant presence throughout my life. I was first a collector, then an art dealer, spending many years surrounded by works of art. Gradually, however, the desire to stand before a blank canvas became stronger than the desire to acquire paintings. Eventually, I took the step.

*"At first, there was one fish, then two, then flowers, fruit, vegetables, and finally, people."*

Joseph Rethlin is my artist's name.

In my paintings, ordinary objects become quiet presences.

Fish, lemons, bottles and plates are never chosen simply for their decorative appeal. Instead, they carry memory, simplicity and a quiet sense of fragility.

I am deeply attached to the domestic world. Everyday objects interest me because they quietly reveal our relationship with time, light and daily rituals. For me, the still life is therefore not merely an exercise in representation but a space for contemplation.

I seek a painting of restraint and silence. Still life fascinates me because it suspends time. The objects remain motionless, yet they continue to vibrate with an inner life. Through them, I try to evoke a subtle emotion, the warmth of Mediterranean light, and a profound sense of presence.

My years as an art collector have deeply shaped the way I see.

Long before I began painting, I spent years studying the works of other artists. This close relationship with both historical and modern painting has influenced my understanding of materials, composition and the memory carried by images.

Technically, I work primarily in oil on canvas, while also exploring acrylic, mixed media and, for some of my more minimalist series, Chinese ink wash. Each medium offers a different relationship with matter and light: the richness of oil, the immediacy of acrylic, and the quiet restraint of ink wash.

My paintings do not seek to tell an explicit story. Instead, they offer a calm space where simple forms become sensitive traces of time and everyday life.

Ultimately, my work is an invitation to look differently at ordinary things. Through my paintings, I hope to share this quiet attention to objects, light and the discreet presences that surround us.

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Joseph Rethlin is a contemporary painter based in France. A former art collector and art dealer, he turned to painting after many years spent living in close contact with works of art.

His work focuses primarily on contemporary still life. Fish, lemons, bottles, plates and everyday objects become quiet presences within his compositions, imbued with memory and light.

The recurring dialogue between fish and lemons occupies a central place in his artistic universe. On one hand, the fish evokes Mediterranean culture, popular memory and the fragility of living things. On the other, the lemon introduces a vibrant luminosity—almost electric—that moves through the pictorial space.

Joseph Rethlin has developed a deliberately restrained and understated style of painting. His compositions draw upon the tradition of classical still life while pursuing a distinctly contemporary sense of simplicity. Simplified backgrounds and silent spaces allow the viewer's attention to focus entirely on the central subject.

Formally, his work combines careful observation with painterly freedom. Texture, material and subtle variations of light interact with a refined spatial composition. This approach reflects the influence of his previous career as both a photographer and an art collector, where close attention to objects and their visual presence was essential.

In Joseph Rethlin's paintings, still life becomes a suspended moment. Familiar objects lose their everyday function and acquire a contemplative dimension in which light, silence and memory remain in constant dialogue.

Through his work, the artist ultimately invites viewers to contemplate the ordinary with renewed attention. Simple forms become sensitive traces of time, light and everyday existence.

© Joseph Rethlin