Pierre Soulages: A Life in Black and Light Pierre Soulages (1919-2022) was a French abstract painter, engraver, and sculptor. Celebrated as “the world’s greatest living artist” by François Hollande in 2014, Soulages dedicated his life to exploring the depths of black – not as an absence of color, but as a presence brimming with light and texture. Early Life and Education Born in Rodez, Aveyron, France, in 1919, Soulages’ artistic journey began with explorations of museums in Paris before World War II. He sought his vocation amidst the masterpieces of the past. Following military service du…