Port-en-Bessin
1882
Paul Signac captures the restless energy of the Normandy coast here, years before he became famous for his meticulous dot-painting technique. You can almost feel the spray of the choppy, green-tinged waves, rendered with thick, energetic strokes of white paint that look like they were slapped on with a palette knife. The cliffside looms on the left, with a ship's mast peeking over the top, hinting at the harbor life that fascinated this lifelong sailor. While he is a giant of Post-Impressionism, this early 1882 work shows his deep connection to the looser, spontaneous style of the Impressionists.
- Technique
- Oil paint with visible impasto texture