Les peintures nostalgiques et l'esprit des films noirs

In search for the most realistic oil painting of an open book I have ever seen (of which I had a postcard which I lost. Buggeration. It was by a German artist and probably over two-hundred years old. But I have really no idea whatsoever, and you can imagine what a search for "Book" and "oil painting" got me...), I stumbled upon two artists I really like - Jack Vettriano and Francine Van Hove.

I don't really know why, something about their paintings just appeals to me and makes me go "Pritteeh!" It's something between the situations they draw and the style which is - just pritteeh. Not fancy or mind-blowing - simply pritteeh.

Jack Vettriano:

( Larger paintings )

and Francine Van Hove:

( Larger paintings )