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Plumelec, 80 years later: a painted homage to the landings 🇫🇷

Updated: 4 days ago


Caporal Émile Bouétard- SAS
Caporal Émile Bouétard- SAS

In Plumelec, Brittany, on June 5, 2024, during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, I had the honor of unveiling a painting in tribute to Corporal Émile Bouétard : 🔗 See the work

He was the first Frenchman to die during landing and a member of the prestigious Special Air Service (SAS). Through him, I wanted to revive an entire legacy of courage, commitment, and sacrifice.

This shared moment of remembrance with local residents, veterans, and families was filled with deep emotion. The presentation of this portrait of Émile Bouétard was not just a tribute: it was an attempt to resonate with his story, his perspective, and what he still represents today .

I had the great opportunity to listen to the testimony of Colonel Achille Muller :🔗 His testimony

A discreet hero, he lived through three wars and continues to bear witness with moving energy and humility. His words about Émile, whom he knew well, will remain with me. "I recognize his gaze," he told me when he discovered the painting. That simple whisper was enough to excite me. And it confirmed to me that, if only for a moment, I had touched something true.

This painting is more than a work: it's a bridge between generations , a fragment of embodied memory. It contains a part of my story, but also a bit of each of us. While painting it , I wanted it to be alive , pulsating with that human power that transcends time.

If this portrait inspires you, moves you, or simply makes you think, then it has fulfilled its purpose. Because deep down, we are never alone with our problems .

May this face remind us all of what we owe to those who fought for our freedom.



 
 
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