Barfleur, The Port
1930
Paul Signac, famous for his meticulous Pointillist dots, shows a much looser, spontaneous side in this 1930 sketch of the harbor at Barfleur. Loose washes of blue and violet capture a dramatic, stormy sky looming over the church tower and moored sailboats. Signac was an avid sailor who traveled the French coast in his boat, the *Olympia*, creating these quick watercolor studies *en plein air* to serve as memory aids for his larger oil paintings. It’s a fantastic glimpse into the artist's process, proving that even the most structured painters need to sketch quickly before the light changes.
- Technique
- Watercolor and pencil
- Material
- Paper