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Mougenot NatalyaContemporary expressionist abstract man
s portrait "The soul behind the gaze"2025
2025
$316.43
$395.5420% Off
£236.71
£295.8920% Off
€264
€33020% Off
CA$435.66
CA$544.5820% Off
A$476.78
A$595.9820% Off
CHF 251.94
CHF 314.9220% Off
MX$5,690.70
MX$7,113.3820% Off
NOK 3,215.03
NOK 4,018.7920% Off
SEK 2,940.41
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About the Item
"The Soul Behind the Gaze" is a contemporary abstract expressionist portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, and forms part of her evocative series of masked or emotionally veiled portraits. In this compelling piece, Mougenot captures the face of a man rendered in her signature expressive style—marked by dynamic brushwork, layered textures, and a rich emotional undercurrent.
The man's features are intentionally intensified, not to depict him with photographic realism, but to communicate the complexity of his inner life. His gaze, although direct, is layered with ambiguity and introspection, prompting viewers to question what lies beneath the surface.
Natalya offers insight into her creative process with this reflection:
"While painting this piece, I was thinking about the soul we all have. Sometimes, we hide the real 'us'—our true selves—behind our face, behind our look, behind our gaze, behind our smile."
This introspective quote reveals the philosophical core of the artwork. It’s not merely a portrait of a man—it’s an exploration of the human condition: how people often mask their true emotions, desires, or vulnerabilities behind socially acceptable expressions. The 'gaze' in the painting becomes a metaphor for both revelation and concealment, drawing the viewer into a silent dialogue with the unseen soul behind it.
By blending abstraction with emotional depth, Mougenot challenges the traditional boundaries of portraiture, pushing viewers to look beyond appearances and consider the hidden layers within each individual. “The Soul Behind the Gaze” is not only a visual statement but also a psychological one—a portrait not just of a man, but of the human spirit striving to be seen.
Details about the piece:
This piece was painted with professional-grade acrylics on heavyweight, acid-free paper. A final layer of protective varnish enhances both its tactile quality and visual intensity.
The work is sold unframed, giving collectors the flexibility to choose a frame that suits their space. As the painting conforms to standard sizes, framing is simple and accessible.
To inspire presentation, images of the piece framed in various interior settings are included.
The painting is shipped flat (not rolled) in a secure box from France and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its provenance.
About the artist:
Natalya Mougenot is a painter whose artistic vision naturally extends into photography. Rooted in a deep appreciation for simplicity, authenticity, and the quiet beauty of everyday life, her work invites a sense of stillness and reflection.
Born and raised in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, and now based in Lyon, France for over 20 years, Natalya brings a multicultural sensibility and a deeply personal narrative to her practice. Her art—bold, expressive, and emotionally resonant—has found its way into private collections worldwide, appealing to those who value both visual impact and emotional honesty.
Her journey began with photography at the age of 11, when she received her first Polaroid camera. Though self-taught, her intuitive approach brings a gentle, observant eye to her images. She doesn’t aim to reinvent the world through her lens, but to embrace it — just as it is.
In 2017, painting became her primary mode of expression, though photography remains a quiet companion — a source of inspiration and a practice of presence. Her photographs often serve as visual sketches: some become paintings, others remain as quiet stories on their own.
Natalya shares:
“I seek to capture the honest, unguarded moments of life — simple, timeless fragments that reveal the poetry in everyday existence. My photography, like my painting, embraces presence and authenticity.”
- Creator:Mougenot Natalya (1981, French)
- Creation Year:2025
- Dimensions:Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)Width: 11.7 in (29.7 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:VÉNISSIEUX, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2490216725092
Natalya Mougenot id a french artist living in France for more than 20 years. She was born and grew up in Kazakhstan, the country known for its spacious steppes. She arrived in France 2003. Since that moment she loves her adoptive country. She started painting in 2017 and used it as a therapeutic and emotional release during times of crisis. She incorporates this therapeutic approach in her artistic creative process till now. In her artistic practice she refers to the terms of metamodernism, which proposes to look at the world from the position of the inner adult. As an artist and as a woman she translates the experience of her personal search for balance based on harmony between mind, soul and body. This balance, in her opinion, is the pillar for the inner adult. Important components of her work are authenticity, soulfulness, sincerity, emotionality and honesty. She immerses the objects and the characters in the world where there is no falsity, rudeness, loneliness and indifference. She works rapidly and is constantly sensitive to the details. Her artistic process is a fine balance between a pre-meditation and spontantainty which helps her to create her expressive atmospheric artworks with a modern touch of impressionism by cultivating a naive art approach. Natalya manipulates different mediums without a preconceived plan since she is guided by what she wants to express at the moment by embracing the quality of my materials. She does not deny that her artworks reflect her intuitive approach and her love for vibrant colors which represent her who she is. Natalya says she is never able to create the same piece more than once. Sometimes she paints from photos or images. Sometimes she paints from memory. She tells to herself : "Just be yourself when you create ".
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