Saint-Tropez. The Tartanes
circa 1900
Paul Signac basically put Saint-Tropez on the map long before it became a playground for yachts and celebrities. This lively watercolor sketch captures traditional Mediterranean sailing vessels, known as tartanes, bobbing in the harbor around 1900. If you look closely at the top, you can see his handwritten notes about color harmonies—he was essentially brainstorming for a larger, more detailed Pointillist masterpiece. It's a charming, behind-the-scenes look at how a Neo-Impressionist master planned his vibrant compositions, using loose washes of blue and orange to test the waters before committing to canvas.
- Technique
- Watercolor and pencil
- Material
- Paper
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