Breton Landscape

Breton rocky landscape
Certainly close to Dinard
Oil on canvas
Early 20th century

Canvas from the Aprin in Paris
in activity from 1880 to 1898,
stencil color merchant's stamp:
COULEURS FINES & TOILES A TABLEAUX / P.ARPIN A PARIS
43 RUE DE DOUAIS, 43
P.ARPIN

Pencil annotation on the stretcher, Study of rocky landscape around 1936.

In the early 20th century, la Bretagne became a major source of inspiration for many painters seeking authenticity, wild nature, and preserved traditions. This region, seen as a “land’s end,” attracted artists with its coastal landscapes and unique local culture.

The Pont-Aven School, founded in the late 19th century around Paul Gauguin, had a strong influence on Bretagne painting with its Symbolist style, vivid colors, and simplified forms. Artists like Émile Bernard and Paul Sérusier played key roles in this movement.

At the same time, painters such as Mathurin Méheut and Henri Rivière focused on depicting Bretagne daily life, seaports, religious festivals, and coastal scenes with either a documentary or poetic approach.

Artist colonies flourished in villages like Pont-Aven, Le Pouldu, Concarneau, Camaret, and Douarnenez, attracting both French and foreign painters.

Artistic styles varied from Impressionism and Symbolism to decorative art and Japanese-inspired aesthetics.

This period marked the emergence of an original Bretagne painting style, blending modernity with deep cultural roots.