René Jansen

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I met Renée during a painting week that was held at my family home in Bourgogne. That trip was a big step for him. He had always sought his inspiration close to home. One of his charming attributes was that he did not need to travel great distances to see many things. He traveled, as it were, through the items that he found nearby. In Le Grand Moloy, he also preferred to stay within the grounds.

I knew that Renée was terminally ill. Knowing that we had little time left, we developed a strong bond very quickly. His work moved me. He was a true fine painter, who was able to capture stillness in his landscapes, still lifes and portraits. His melancholic gaze seemed to appreciate the beauty in the impermanence of things.

Until his death, I frequently visited him in his workshop in Kiel-Winderweer, where I modeled for him and he modeled for me. A sense of calmness enveloped me there like a warm blanket. The wooden beams, the walls filled with posters, the Miles Davis music and the endless collection of records made it seem as if time had stood still within those four walls. It felt like home. In those idle hours, we sunk further into stillness together.