Throughout his artistic career, renowned French artist Pierre Soulages has adhered to the tenets of abstractionism. And the color black has been the main medium in his work. The artist expresses the nuances evident in his favorite color, using various techniques of paint application to achieve them.

Appropriately enough, then, the retrospective exhibition of his paintings at the Tretyakov Art Gallery (Krymsky Val) is called "The Color Black." "We are witnessing the beginning of a worldwide triumph of the color black," Soulages said as he addressed guests at a ceremony marking the opening of his exhibition.

Showing solidarity with Soulages' concept, the majority of the VIPs were clad in various shades of black during the ceremony, held at the French Embassy. The well-known invitees included poetess Bella Akhmadulina, her husband, artist Boris Messerer, Parisian decorator Brigitte Saby, poet Dmitry Prigov, director of the Tretyakov Art Gallery Valentin Rodionov and director of the Shchusev Museum of Architecture David Sarkisian. The black fashions worn at the ceremony effectively complemented the works of the prominent 20th-century abstractionist.

The exhibition recently finished a successful run at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and has now moved on to Moscow, where it will be on display until Nov. 18. It includes paintings created by Soulages over a long period in his career, from 1948 up to January 2000 – a total of 28 canvases and nine paintings on paper.