Ghosts From the Id: The Art of Angélique Bègue

French artist Angélique Danielle Bègue completed her apprenticeship at the Priory of Gorze, surrounded by nuns and women who had converted to Orthodoxy. They belong to the same local community as her. Bègue was fortunate to have Louise Marie, a highly esteemed icon master, as her teacher. While undergoing three years of traditional tempera practice, Begue also dedicated time to figure drawing lessons at the School of Fine Art in Metz.

Fig 1. Liquid Gold. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

Fig 2. Histrory of O. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

Reflections in Flesh

One can perceive Bègue's work here as a detachment in itself, as it combines various experiences of life, including death, sex, rape, incest, birth, pleasure, and pain. Bègue in her book “Dans Mon Corps,” examines the enduring scars of love that marked her as a young girl, drawing parallels between these bruises and her father’s fight against illness. Painting to Bègue combines elements of autobiographical fiction with the imprints of others, which she portrays on the canvas. Bègue sees the canvas as a reflective skin that internalizes fantasies. The most vivid aspects are born from the core of our personal encounters. This is where viewers meet their own haunting memories and dramatic imaginations. She believes everyone can understand her work through their own identity and personal journey.

Fig 3. The Beast Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

Fig 4. The Kiss. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

The Philosophy and the Interiority of Bègue's Work

To gain a deeper understanding of Angelique Bègue's work, it’s important to mention the French philosopher and historian of the body, Bernard Andrieu. In his pursuit, Andrieu explores the body and its relationship with transitory states and emptiness. Within the body, there is an involuntary memory that acts as a sensory map to gain fresh knowledge.The search starts by embracing discontinuity that disrupts repetitive patterns. Understanding this principle revolves around being informed of the dynamic and fleeting nature of consciousness. It’s about exploring the blurred lines between our known truths and the vast space of the unknown.

According to Andrieu, the act of immersing oneself in a range of extreme situations serves as a pathway into self-discovery. In order to illustrate, Bègue explores defeat and dominance as her body seeks to understand her internal state in a specific situation or role play. Bernard Andrieu’s introduction in her book, Dans Mon Corps, establishes Andrieu as a significant influence for Bègue.

Fig 5. Lust. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

Fig 6. Liane. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

When an Image Or Idea Undergoes Shedding 

In Bègue’s painting and performance art, the nude is always present. Being naked results in complete exposure. Bègue often portrays harsh and intense scenes, but the underlying vitality of life remains constant. Love and pleasure are incomplete without pain. Bègue’s preface to “Dans Mon Corps” reveals painting is her method of constructing a complete picture by uniting tiny fragments from her life.

In addition, she expressed her paintings function as a mirror, enabling viewers to see themselves while examining the artwork. Through its visionary fusion, the icon represents the divine life, concealing both the artist’s perception and the viewer’s imaginative interpretations.

Fig 7. Donkey Skin. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

Fig 8. Child Birth. Tempera Painting by Angélique Bègue

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Click HERE for an article on the pleasure principle in the art of Elstabo

Source directly from Angélique Bègue and Dans mon corps

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