Pélias et Nélée (pink version)

Pélias et Nélée (pink version) is a refined and atmospheric reinterpretation of Georges Braque’s 1958 gouache, translated into tapestry by the historic Moulin de Vaudoboyen workshop in Bièvres. This version, one of an edition of eight, presents the composition through a softened pink-toned palette, offering a more delicate and luminous reading of Braque’s original vision while preserving its structural integrity.

The composition centers on two mirrored, winged forms—abstracted silhouettes that evoke mythological presence without literal depiction. As referenced in the original work, the title alludes to Pélias and Nélée, figures from Greek mythology and sons of Poseidon. Rather than illustrating narrative, Braque distills the myth into symbolic form, allowing shape, color, and balance to carry meaning.

In this woven interpretation, the figures appear suspended within a softly modulated field, where tonal variations replace the deeper blues of the original with a more atmospheric, nuanced harmony. The pink palette introduces a sense of quiet tension and refinement, subtly shifting the emotional register of the work while maintaining its underlying duality and sense of movement.

Braque’s mature language—developed through his pioneering role in Cubism—relied on suggestion rather than explicit representation. Here, that approach translates seamlessly into textile form. The mirrored composition suggests balance and opposition, while the tactile surface of the wool enhances the rhythmic interplay between figure and ground.

The Moulin de Vaudoboyen, with its long-standing tradition of textile craftsmanship, brings an added layer of historical depth to the piece. Their expertise allows the subtleties of Braque’s painterly transitions to be preserved through carefully calibrated weaving techniques, ensuring that the softness of tone and precision of form remain intact.

As a limited edition example with a distinctive chromatic variation, Pélias et Nélée (pink version) offers a rare opportunity to experience Braque’s poetic abstraction through a unique lens—where mythology, modernism, and material come together in a quietly powerful composition.