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Radical portraitist uses distorted techniques to probe the psyche

Florian Eymann is a French artist whose work is raising eyebrows on both sides of the Channel right now. About to open his first show in London, his paintings distort and deform the classic portrait styles of Caravaggio, Rubens and Rembrandt. The aim, he says, is to make viewers think about the relationship between mind and body.

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Florian Eymann's distorted portrait of a figure in classical dress with fragmented facial features and obscured edges against a dark background

“I want the audience to think of classical portraits initially, then notice my distortions and make their own interpretations," explains Eymann, who mainly works in oil and watercolour, on paper and canvas. "The viewer must delve into their own psyche to fill in the gaps and create each piece as a whole.

“Within society I feel there is an overall lack of emphasis on understanding the psyche and our more complex emotions," he continues. "People often shut away their feelings as a defence mechanism, but this causes bigger conflict within the body. I want my work to unlock doors in the viewer’s mind. Whether this evokes a positive or negative reaction depends on the individual, but the most important thing is that the work incites emotion.”

His first London show, entitled Psyche-Soma, will feature 23 original artworks, and takes place at Soho's Lawrence Alkin Gallery from 12 May until 3 June.

Charcoal sketch of a distorted portrait with exaggerated facial features and loose, gestural marks creating an unsettling psychological effect
Florian Eymann's distorted oil portrait of a bearded man's head in profile against a dark background, with blurred and smudged features emerging from shadow
A distorted portrait head painted in muted greys and whites against a dark background, with exaggerated facial features and loose, gestural brushstrokes typical of Florian Eymann's style
Portrait by Florian Eymann showing a figure in a red coat with a white collar, the face distorted and layered with abstract marks and colourful accents in muted tones
Distorted portrait painting by Florian Eymann showing a pale skull-like face with dark, fragmented brushstrokes obscuring the features against a dark background with touches of blue and orange
Florian Eymann's distorted portrait of a figure in ornate military dress, with overlapping translucent faces emerging from the composition against a dark background
Double-exposed portrait painting with a man's face overlaid with a mountainous landscape in muted purple and grey tones
Florian Eymann's distorted portrait painting of a figure with a pale face and pink-toned features against a dark background, in the style of classical masters but deliberately deformed
Distorted portrait of a figure with pale blonde hair and colourful paint marks across the face, rendered in dark tones with loose brushwork emerging from shadow
Portrait painting by Florian Eymann with a distorted, translucent face rendered in warm tones against a dark background, evoking Old Masters techniques
Florian Eymann's distorted portrait painting of a figure with darkened features and pale, deformed face against muted green and grey tones, demonstrating his technique of deforming classical portrait styles
Florian Eymann's distorted portrait of a face with yellowed skin rendered in dark, gestural brushstrokes against an atmospheric background
Distorted portrait painting by Florian Eymann showing a fragmented face with warm and cool tones, blending classical portraiture with abstract, deformed brushwork against a dark background
Florian Eymann's distorted portrait of a figure in red robes and ornate black military regalia with white smoke obscuring the upper face against a dark background
Portrait with distorted and fragmented facial features overlaid with abstract marks and colours, rendered in oil and watercolour
Watercolour portrait by Florian Eymann of a man's head in profile, with yellow, blue and brown washes bleeding and dripping down the white paper
Florian Eymann's distorted watercolour portrait of a man's head rendered in warm ochre and blue tones with loose, dissolving brushwork against a white background
Watercolour portrait of a man with curled hair wearing formal dress, rendered in muted tones with abstracted yellow and brown washes obscuring and distorting the classical composition
Watercolour portrait of a figure's face rendered in muted tones of gold, blue and ochre with soft edges dissolving into the pale background
Watercolour portrait of a figure with a dark blue face surrounded by loose yellow and green washes that drip down the paper, by Florian Eymann
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