Pierre Soulages (1919–2022) was a renowned French abstract painter celebrated for his profound exploration of black as a medium to harness light. Born in Rodez, France, Soulages was deeply influenced by the prehistoric cave art and Romanesque architecture of his native region, elements that permeated his artistic vision. In the late 1940s, he emerged as a leading figure in the postwar abstract movement, particularly associated with Tachism, the French counterpart to American Abstract Expressionism. His early works featured bold black brushstrokes on lighter backgrounds, emphasizing the interplay between form and void.