The artwork “Villas at Trouville” was painted by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte in 1884. The medium is oil on canvas, and the painting belongs to the Impressionism movement. This landscape genre artwork is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
In “Villas at Trouville,” Gustave Caillebotte captures a serene coastal landscape. The composition features elegant villas nestled on a hillside that slopes gently towards the sea. Architectural details of the buildings, such as the contrasting red and white stripes, gabled roofs, and ornate towers, are rendered with quick, loose brushstrokes characteristic of the Impressionist style. The surrounding vegetation is depicted in verdant greens, and the expansive sea stretches out towards the horizon in varying shades of blue, conveying a sense of calmness. The sky above is filled with soft white clouds, suggesting a bright, slightly overcast day. The painting conveys a leisurely atmosphere, characteristic of the seaside resorts popular among the French bourgeoisie during Caillebotte’s time. Through his deft use of light and color, Caillebotte evokes the tranquil beauty of the Normandy coast.
