Michèle Duretête-Brodel was born with a natural love for drawing, a passion that shaped her early years and continues to define her creative identity today. Although her professional life once kept her away from painting, she eventually found her way back to art in 2003, a return that reignited her deepest sense of purpose and expression. Three years later, in 2006, she discovered the medium that would become her artistic language: pastel. From that moment, she devoted herself entirely to it, drawn to its tactile, sensual qualities and the way it allows her to work directly with color and light.
The Sensual Power of Pastel
For Michèle Duretête-Brodel, pastel is more than a medium; it is a form of intimacy between artist and surface. The powdery texture of pastel, easily blended by hand, gives her the freedom to translate emotion through touch. She finds endless fascination in the medium’s ability to capture softness and luminosity, describing it as “a sensual quality” that perfectly matches her temperament and vision.
Her works display a mastery of realism imbued with quiet emotion. While she began her artistic journey as a portrait painter, focused on expressing human presence and individuality, her curiosity soon led her to explore landscapes, seascapes, and still lifes. No matter the subject, each painting bears the unmistakable mark of her sensitivity and deep connection to her surroundings.
“Rêverie matinale”: A Morning of Reflection
Among her most celebrated works is “Rêverie matinale” (“Morning Reverie”), a pastel painting that beautifully encapsulates her artistic philosophy. The composition portrays her niece, viewed from behind, sitting beside her indoor pool with a cup of coffee in hand as the first rays of sunlight stream through the bay window.
The scene is simple yet profound. It captures a fleeting moment of calm introspection the quiet of morning, the reflection of light on still water, and the subtle warmth of a new day beginning. There is no dramatization, no artificial emotion; instead, Duretête-Brodel invites viewers to share in the peaceful solitude of an ordinary yet deeply human moment.
Her ability to transform a scene from daily life into a visual meditation is what gives “Rêverie matinale” its poetic power. It speaks of serenity, observation, and gratitude for life’s gentle rhythms.
From Portraits to Broader Horizons
Although Michèle Duretête-Brodel first gained recognition for her portraits, her artistic vision soon expanded. She began exploring nature and still-life compositions, finding beauty in the simplicity of everyday subjects. Whether she paints the vast horizon of a seascape, the quiet arrangement of objects on a table, or the subtle light falling across a figure, her realism remains warm and human.
Every work reflects her personality: measured, intuitive, and deeply attuned to atmosphere. She paints primarily for her own pleasure, guided not by trends or expectations but by the joy of creation itself. This honesty of purpose gives her art an authenticity that resonates with audiences across cultures.
Recognition and Exhibitions
Since 2008, Michèle Duretête-Brodel has presented her work in both solo and group exhibitions across France and abroad. Her artistry, grounded in technical excellence and emotional subtlety, has earned her recognition in international circles.
Her pastel “Rêverie matinale” received the Best of the Show Award in the United States, acknowledging not only her skill but also her ability to evoke profound emotion through simplicity. The same painting was also awarded First Prize in the Contemporary Category at the Art Certificate International Figurative Competition in Spain.
These achievements reflect her growing presence among contemporary realist artists who bring timeless sensitivity to modern expression.
The Artist’s Philosophy
At the heart of Michèle Duretête-Brodel’s work lies a deep appreciation for stillness and observation. She finds inspiration not in spectacle but in the quiet, intimate moments that define human experience: the glimmer of dawn on water, the silence of a private thought, the poetry of a gaze.
Through her art, she invites viewers to slow down, to notice what is often overlooked, and to find beauty in the familiar. Her paintings are meditations on light, presence, and the simple joy of seeing.
In “Rêverie matinale,” this philosophy comes alive. The scene is deeply personal yet universal; it evokes the shared human experience of reflection and renewal, of savoring a moment before the day begins.
A Continuing Journey
Today, Michèle Duretête-Brodel continues to refine her craft with the same passion that drew her back to painting more than two decades ago. Each new piece is a dialogue between observation and emotion, between the external world and her inner landscape.
Her journey, one that began with youthful curiosity, paused for the realities of life, and was later rekindled with devotion, stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic calling.
Through her mastery of pastel and her sensitive eye for the poetry of everyday life, Michèle Duretête-Brodel reminds us that art does not need to shout to be heard. Sometimes, the most profound beauty speaks in whispers in the morning light, in a quiet gesture, in the reverie of a moment fully lived.
