Port of La Ciotat (1907; France) by Georges Braque

Port of La Ciotat - Georges Braque - 1907; France

Artwork Information

TitlePort of La Ciotat
ArtistGeorges Braque
Date1907; France
Dimensions65 x 81 cm
Art MovementFauvism
Current LocationPrivate Collection

About Port of La Ciotat

The artwork “Port of La Ciotat” was created by artist Georges Braque in 1907, and is a quintessential example of the Fauvism movement. Measuring 65 by 81 centimeters, the genre of the piece is classified as a marina. The piece was created in France and is currently housed in a private collection. The painting encapsulates the vibrant and dynamic spirit of early 20th-century modern art, characteristic of the Fauvist style.

In the artwork, one observes a vivid depiction of the harbor at La Ciotat, with boats moored at the quay and several others floating in the water. The scene is captured using a palette of bold, expressive colors, rejecting naturalistic representation in favor of vibrant tones that evoke emotion and mood. Broad, quick brushstrokes convey energy and movement within the composition, while the use of perspective and simplified forms suggests the influence of post-impressionist and early modernist practices.

Foregrounded are clusters of boats, their forms abstracted into sweeping curves and bold patches of color that suggest their rounded shapes and the reflections in the water. In the middle ground, larger ships and the buildings along the quay present a tapestry of geometric shapes and forms, with the masts of the ships reaching upwards, intersecting with the skyline. The background is composed of hints of a distant shore, and the open sky with subtle gradations of color completes the lively scene.

Through his unique vision, Braque has transformed a simple seascape into a celebration of color, form, and the expressive potential of paint, making “Port of La Ciotat” a notable work in the canon of Fauvist art.

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