Séraphine

Séraphine Louis is a middle-aged housekeeper who paints in a candle-lit home, guided by what she believes is religious inspiration. She frequently stops during her daily walks to admire trees and the beauty of nature. She even collects soil from plants and blood from a dead pig, using these elements in her artwork.

Uhde, a respected art critic, encounters Séraphine while she works as a housekeeper and recognizes genuine promise in her paintings. He assures her that her talent is real and that he will look after her career. He urges her to follow her gift and to trust in his help.

As her work gains attention, critics notice the unusual red tones in her paintings. Séraphine is asked how she achieves this effect, but she insists that keeping the secret is part of her process. The aura of mystery adds to the impression of divine inspiration around her art.

With the outbreak of World War I, Uhde, who is German, must flee France, leaving Séraphine behind. She continues painting in her modest home, undeterred by the separation. The loss of her patron creates a quiet pressure on her work as she persists alone.

In 1927 Uhde returns and is impressed by how much her art has improved. He begins buying her paintings and encourages her to focus solely on painting, providing a generous monthly stipend. The relationship transforms a hidden talent into a supported, professional practice.

Prosperity unsettles Séraphine; she buys an expensive bridal gown despite not having a suitor. She claims to have received an important message from the angels, heightening her sense of special status. Her confidence in the divine resonance of her work grows as others begin to take notice.

As the Great Depression unfolds, Uhde can no longer sell her paintings and cannot sustain the stipend. Séraphine discovers herself as a woman of means, a status that unsettles her balance and distorts her sense of reality. The financial blow triggers mental strain, altering the course of her career.

After she publicly wears the bridal gown, she stirs the town and attracts scrutiny from the community. The episode deepens concerns about her wellbeing and distracts from her artistic reputation. Those around her begin to fear for her grasp on reality.

Séraphine is put into a lunatic asylum, and her painting career ends for a time. The isolation marks a stark turn from acclaimed artist to patient under care. Yet the memory of her devotion to nature and color remains in her story.

Uhde visits her but is advised not to contact, to avoid upsetting her. He prioritizes her well-being and secures her a room in the institution that allows her some outdoor exposure. His quiet intervention emphasizes his role as guardian rather than agent.

Within the institution, Séraphine begins to enjoy the beauties of nature again by going outside into the grounds. The experience rekindles the appreciation that once fueled her art and offered solace amid hardship.

She dies in 1942, ending a life marked by poverty and resilience. Her paintings later gain fame and critical respect, ensuring Séraphine Louis's place in art history. The legacy of her spiritual approach to color continues to inspire.