Looking to purchase a painting, Gaëtan was directed to my site following an internet search. A few photo-shares later, we agreed on the subject of the painting that was to be created for him, his wife Michelle and their son Lohan.

The subject appealed to me greatly, as it represented a happy memory, a moment of sweet fulfillment in the forest. A tender moment when a father and his son walk in union among the grandiose trees lining their path, on a journey dotted with several destinations, including this place, the bisses of the Valais in the Swiss Alps.

Thanks to Gaëtan's explanations, I learned that what I thought was a small stream nearby was called a bisse. Bisses are irrigation canals dating back as far as the 13th century. They are supplied by melting glaciers and allow water to be distributed between communities for use in vineyards, orchards, agricultural areas and for animals. Ranging in length from 5 to 30 kilometers, these canals sometimes run along vertiginous walls at an altitude of 2,500 meters, forming over 1,800 kilometers of bisses to discover.

It was in this magical setting that a photograph was taken, which later became the inspiration for this painting. To better capture the essence of this moment, I'd like to share with you this magnificent text composed by Gaëtan:

"Along the way, we discovered the beauty of the environment, and the presence of these trees slowly became our friends. They made us feel safe. The air had an unusual quality. A mixture of glacier freshness, the caress of the sun's rays felt at high altitude, and the aromas of the forest. Everything was conducive to a magical moment. The blend of elements gave us an experience of awareness of what seemed essential to us at the time. Just like the bisse and the path taken in this passage... The passages in life where it's worth devoting an admiring, contemplative and grateful attention. Every channel of life has a function, its own grandeur and magnificence. This hike will have been a source of oxygen and beauty for our personal and family history, and a unique opportunity to pass on an invisible quality to our children.  Every tree, every bisse, every path, every life, every child... has its own magnificence. We have the privilege and the duty to accompany them with good care, love and wisdom."

Time takes many memories with it, unfortunately blurring certain images in our mind. Yes, in the distant future, it's probably this image that will stick in Lohan's mind when he thinks of his trip to Switzerland with his family. An image where hand in hand, he walked in peace and happiness with his father. But for me, this image is above all the vision of his mother, who took the time to immortalize this scene, probably with a look of tenderness and gratitude. So it is through Michelle's eyes that this magical moment will live on forever in Lohan's heart.