“I try to render the beauty of the world through a wandering and sensitive gaze.”
Michel Testard: A Life Shaped by Travel and Cultural Encounters
Michel Testard describes himself as a wandering painter, an artist whose work reflects a lifetime of travel, cultural exchanges, and an ever-evolving artistic journey. Born in Tokyo into a French artistic lineage, his early years were spent moving between Japan, Vietnam, and France. These formative experiences nurtured a fascination with Asia, which found expression in his childhood sketches. Throughout his school and university years, drawing remained a constant, eventually becoming an integral part of his professional life. Even during his career as a management consultant, he relied on visual metaphors and illustrations to communicate complex ideas to business leaders. Later, he refined his artistic techniques at the Ateliers de la Ville de Paris, dedicating himself fully to painting.
His art defies strict categorization, eschewing conceptual or abstract styles in favor of an expressive, diverse approach. Whether depicting landscapes, urban scenes, portraits, or imaginative compositions, his work often explores themes of identity, cultural diversity, and human connection. A significant part of his artistic focus is on India, where he has spent extensive time capturing its landscapes, people, and traditions. His paintings reflect the influence of masters like Paul Gauguin and Le Douanier Rousseau, both in their vibrant use of color and their ability to merge reality with fantasy. Testard’s work also draws inspiration from European and Indian artistic traditions, seeking to bridge the East and West in a unique visual language.
One of his most personal series, Room with a View, was born during the COVID-19 lockdowns and takes inspiration from the old Portuguese mansions of Goa. These paintings present opulent interiors opening onto lush tropical gardens, evoking the universal longing for freedom felt during confinement. Another recurring theme in his work is his fascination with India’s people, from rural villagers to Brahmins and wandering sadhus. His Vaishnavi Sadhu series, for instance, portrays India’s spiritual figures against dark, dramatic backgrounds, inviting contemplation on their roles and mysteries. Music, too, plays a central role in his artistic vision, deeply influenced by Indian classical traditions and his own experience as a sitar player. Across his entire body of work, Testard maintains a deep commitment to capturing the beauty of the world through a sensitive, nomadic gaze.
Hyderabad, bangles shop – Goa, room with a view
Michel Testard: An Artistic Evolution from Sketches to Expressionist Canvases
From an early age, Michel Testard’s natural talent for drawing set him on an artistic path, supported by his family’s deep artistic heritage, which included sculptors, publishers, painters, and architects. Sketching and coloring were constant companions during his childhood, whether at home, school, or while traveling. Even during his time in management consulting, he found ways to integrate his artistic sensibilities into his work, using drawings to distill complex business ideas into simple, powerful visuals. Some of these illustrations still decorate the offices of CEOs, a testament to his ability to communicate through images.
Testard’s artistic transformation accelerated after he first visited India 25 years ago. The country’s dynamic energy, vivid colors, and cultural richness inspired him to deepen his artistic practice. He began by sketching architectural wonders—palaces, temples, and historic ruins—taking influence from British Orientalist painters like Thomas and William Daniell. Initially working with ink, wash, and watercolor on paper, he gradually expanded his scope to include people, music, urban life, and nature. As his subjects diversified, so did his techniques, leading him to explore acrylic and oil painting on larger canvases. Encouraged by Indian friends, he held his first exhibition in May 2018 at Bikaner House in Delhi, marking the beginning of his career as a professional artist with regular exhibitions in both India and France.
His expressionist style is characterized by fluid, rapid drawings and intense, luminous colors. His work, though varied, maintains a consistent emphasis on spontaneity, atmosphere, and emotional depth. Testard’s landscapes reflect his travels, from the bustling streets of Indian cities to the stark, icy expanses of Antarctica and Iceland. While his Indian compositions are filled with bright, mythical elements, his Nordic landscapes adopt a more restrained palette, evoking a sense of vast, untamed wilderness. Goa, with its layered cultural history blending Indian and Portuguese influences, holds a special place in his work, particularly in his Room with a View series. Whether capturing Indian classical musicians, jungle scenes reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling’s tales, or humorous portrayals of yogis and maharajas, his paintings invite viewers to explore different cultures with both wonder and curiosity.
Bikaner high street at dusk
The Creative Process: From Inspiration to Canvas
Michel Testard’s artistic process begins long before the first stroke of paint touches the canvas. Each project starts with careful research, as he gathers references—photographs, historical paintings, and sketches—into a visual archive. He then creates preparatory drawings, using simple lines, watercolor, and markers to experiment with composition. As ideas evolve, he transitions from small-scale studies to larger paintings, often working on multiple canvases simultaneously. This dynamic approach allows him to shift between different themes and styles, depending on his mood and the demands of each piece. Some days are spent in deep concentration, while others require stepping back, reflecting, and reorganizing past works.
His studio is a space of intense focus, where distractions rarely intrude. However, the creative process is not always predictable. There are moments of frustration when a painting does not meet his expectations, leading him to rework it repeatedly. Sometimes, in a final effort before ending a session, he paints more freely, using leftover colors on his palette. Interestingly, these last-minute compositions often capture the spontaneity and energy he seeks. This phenomenon recalls a sentiment once expressed by Eugène Delacroix, who believed that the best paintings emerge from improvisation.
Testard’s artistic influences span both European and Indian masters. He admires the vibrant compositions of Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Félix Vallotton, as well as the dreamlike worlds of Henri Rousseau. Indian artists like Amrita Sher-Gil and Rabindranath Tagore also resonate deeply with him. Additionally, he finds inspiration in the works of Édouard Manet, Edward Hopper, and Nicolas de Staël, each of whom brought unique perspectives on color, form, and light. These diverse influences converge in Testard’s paintings, resulting in a body of work that blends Eastern and Western traditions in a distinctly personal way.
Picnic in the jungle, after Manet
Michel Testard: Capturing India’s Spirit Through Art
Among the many works that hold personal significance for Michel Testard, two paintings stand out: The Music Room and Goa, The Music Room. Both pieces encapsulate his deep connection to India, its artistic heritage, and the interplay between past and present.
The Music Room is inspired by Satyajit Ray’s iconic 1958 film Jalsaghar, which tells the story of a fading Bengali landlord who clings to his love for classical music as his wealth and influence decline. In this painting, Testard reimagines a pivotal scene in which the nobleman and his guests listen to the celebrated singer Begum Akhtar. With its rich color palette and intricate details, the painting pays tribute to Indian classical music and Ray’s masterful cinematography. Having played the sitar himself, Testard sought to translate the film’s melancholic beauty into a vivid composition, capturing the spiritual and artistic essence of India.
Equally meaningful is Goa, The Music Room, inspired by Testard’s visits to the historic mansions of Chandor. These grand Portuguese homes, preserved for centuries, transport visitors to another era with their opulent staircases, chandeliers, and antique furniture. During the COVID-19 lockdown, memories of these interiors became a source of creative reflection, leading him to paint a series of works exploring the theme of longing. In these paintings, lavish rooms open onto sunlit gardens, symbolizing the universal desire to escape confinement. By drawing parallels between Goa and the French Riviera, Testard envisions these spaces as places of both nostalgia and imagination, blending European and Indian aesthetics into a dreamlike vision.
Looking ahead, Testard continues to push his artistic boundaries, with aspirations of creating larger-scale works, including triptychs, and staging a major exhibition centered on expansive canvases. Whether in India, France, or the UK, his goal remains the same: to share his unique perspective, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the world through his art.
Jalsaghar, the music room (after Satyajit Ray’s film)
