“Houses at Ceret,” an artwork by Chaim Soutine created circa 1920, is an oil on canvas piece representative of the Expressionism movement. This landscape artwork is currently housed in the Washington University Gallery of Art in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States.
The artwork depicts a village scene, presumably in Ceret, with houses and a church set against a backdrop of lush, verdant foliage. Soutine’s bold, dynamic brushstrokes and vivid color palette give the painting a sense of movement and emotional intensity. The buildings appear tilted and distorted, characteristic of Soutine’s expressionist style, which aims to convey the artist’s emotional response to the subject rather than a realistic portrayal. The swirling patterns in the sky and the heightened contrast between the rich reds, greens, and ochres add to the overall dramatic effect of the scene. This landscape, with its vibrant energy and emotional depth, exemplifies Soutine’s unique approach to capturing the essence of a place.
