The Role of Gold in Jehan Legac’s Paintings

Between sacred presence and subtle atmosphere

“Blue Ether and Gold” 150 x 150 cm, 60 x 60 in

In the world of contemporary oil painting, few materials evoke the same timeless resonance as gold. For Jehan Legac, gold is far more than a decorative accent, it’s a language. A visual and symbolic thread that weaves through his canvases, shaping how we perceive texture, depth, and emotion.

“Gold allows me to explore presence and absence, what is seen and what is

suggested. It’s a way to invite reflection, without saying too much.”

Jehan Legac

A Pictorial Dialogue

In this striking piece, gold takes on a guiding role, drawing the eye, adding contrast, and creating visual rhythm. But it also carries symbolic weight: permanence, sacredness, and value.

His process, as described in a recent Artnet feature, is deeply intuitive: a slow unfolding of inner visions through deliberate, layered technique.

Gold becomes part of that unfolding, emerging or receding depending on the emotional tone of each piece.

A Softer Atmosphere

  “Layers of Illusion” 150 x 150 cm, 60 x 60 in

The use of gold shifts from statement to suggestion. It’s no longer bold, it’s diffused. The metal glows gently through skin tones, infusing the painting with a soft, ethereal quality.

Here, gold softens light rather than intensifying it.

The female figure floats weightlessly, suspended between fragility and strength, silence and presence. It’s a work that invites stillness.

Gold as Language

Jehan’s ongoing exploration of gold reveals a painter not only concerned with beauty, but with meaning. In his hands, gold becomes a tool for speaking without words—for suggesting memory, myth, and the sacred without ever naming them directly.

Whether bold or subtle, gold in Jehan’s work is always intentional, and always evocative.