Gaston Larrieu (1910–1983) – Espelette (basque Country)

Oil on canvas – 80 x 60 cm (canvas only) / 87.5 x 66.5 cm (framed) Signed lower left – Handwritten location on the reverse. A remarkable composition by the Landes painter Gaston Larrieu, depicting the village of Espelette in a warm and contrasting palette. The construction in geometric volumes, the interplay of shadow, light, and textures, lend this Basque view great visual power. The canvas was worked with a palette knife, in a generous impasto typical of the 1960s and 70s, with ochre, turquoise, and off-white tones. Larrieu's style, structured yet vibrant, captures all the density of a southern village in the harsh light of the Southwest. Condition: Some localized losses of paint, mainly in the sky (blue areas) and in the lower part of the white architecture (see photos). These alterations, due to the thickness of the paint and the age of the canvas, do not detract from the legibility of the work. Canvas on original stretcher, period wooden frame. Titled on the back: Espelette – Basque Country. Gaston Larrieu (Mont-de-Marsan 1910 – id. 1983): French painter, engraver, and poster artist. He consistently depicted the landscapes and villages of Southwest France, from the Pyrenees to the Basque Country, in a highly personal body of work exhibited in galleries and regional salons. His work is now featured in numerous private and public collections.