Bonjour Madame
“…nothing in these little drawings is casually executed. Contours are delicately, but definitely drawn, horizontal, vertical, slanting, and bent lines border the areas of color – geometry rules the scene with charm, supported by the colors.”
mp, Saarbrucker Zeitung, November 22, 1979
Etching
Balet's use of line is more direct and versatile, as he creates his etchings with his signature bold shapes and his playful use of color.
Much of the sexual side of human nature that seemed to fascinate Jan found its outlet in the artist’s etchings. Women as the object of a partner’s affections, and sometimes animosities, are richly presented in these beautifully and painstakingly colored prints, regularly infused with subtle humor. Other etchings exude splashes of the bright colors of Jan's paintings in scenes of social groups and situations.
Many of these works bear tongue-in-cheek titles that allow us into the creative workings of Balet’s mind… often leaning toward the risqué, but never over the top... just Jan being Jan.