The Sea at L'Estaque

Painter from the region of Aix-en-Provence (in the South of France) where he lived all his life, Paul Cézanne is still considered today as the father of modern art.

Throughout his life, he strived to represent his native region, Provence, in compositions often judged as provocative because of the geometry that emerges from them.

In this view of the sea from L'Estaque, in the creeks of Marseille, he intertwines the sea with Provençal houses, as well as a complex nature that emerges in the foreground.

Cézanne balances his composition, thanks to the chromatic nuances, which he applies by successive touches and sometimes almost in a rather coarse way, testimony of his proximity to the Impressionist movement. He subtly uses the setting sun, casting a light on the sea and the houses, which is balanced thanks to a harmony of tones. It offers a contemplative view of the Mediterranean, of this calanque in which expressive nature animates the landscapes.