The Liberation of Mons / Arkane

The influence of cinema and his practice of photography is evident in the choice of his framing, lighting, and suggestive staging, offering us a painting that is both subversive, vulnerable, and gentle… A delicate touch, inherited from Pre-Raphaelite painting, with a dynamism borrowed from the Impressionists; Arnaud De Jesus Gonçalves’ repertoire draws inspiration from the work of his 19th-century predecessors. Active on the city walls as well as in his studio, he now shares his unique universe across Europe, the United States, and Mexico, but remains connected to Montpellier, where he has lived and worked for the past twelve years.

Theme
"On this gentle late afternoon in September 1944, as the golden light bathed the streets of Mons, a metallic roar echoed in the distance. The American tank "Fish N Chips" moved slowly and imposingly through the streets, surrounded by amazed onlookers. On board, an American soldier, his face covered in dust but wearing a triumphant smile, had just liberated the city from the last enemy forces. Two children joined him in an atmosphere of regained peace and the promise of a better future."