Return from fishing , circa 1870
Oil on canvas
Trace of signature in the lower left corner
Dimensions: 65 x 117 cm
The scene represents the arrival of some fishermen on a beach. The painter represents the movement of the waves and the moods of the sky with subtlety.
It gives pride of place to nature; the sky occupies three-quarters of the picture. The elements of nature are magnified and take precedence over the lively scene.
The painter details the landscape with precision, draws the shore with finesse. It realistically reflects the efforts of fishermen, back from fishing.
The touch is removed, sometimes brushed with thickness and force, sometimes smooth and shiny, testifying to a pre-impressionist modernity.
A few sailboats enliven the horizon line, punctuating the sea to offer depth on the right, in contrast with the frontality of the rock on the left.
The large format offers a panoramic view of the stage; it invites the viewer to enter the work.