Léon Zeytline "the Tuna Boat On The High Seas" Oil On Canvas - Boat - Fishing - Brittany

Léon ZEYTLINE Moscow, 1885 - 1962, Paris "The Tuna Boat on the High Seas" Oil on canvas, 61 x 50 cm 1957 Signed and dated lower right Painted in 1957, this oil on canvas entitled "The Tuna Boat – High Seas" is a particularly accomplished example of the maritime art of Léon Zeytline, an artist renowned for his ability to capture with great acuity the life of ships and the dynamic power of the sea. The vertical format (61 × 50 cm) accentuates the upward thrust of the sailboat, caught in the effort of battling a dense and restless swell. The composition is dominated by the oblique silhouette of the tuna boat, whose prow cuts through the waves with vigor. Zeytline chooses a slightly lowered viewpoint, giving the vessel an almost heroic monumentality. The slender masts, the sails billowing in the wind, and the intricate tangle of rigging create a taut graphic framework, the very skeleton of the painting, conveying the constant tension between man, the wooden vessel, and the natural elements. The sea, rendered in a range of deep greens, dark blues, and foamy whites, is depicted with an energetic, sometimes almost whip-like brushstroke, evoking the contained violence of the open ocean. The waves, heavy and sculptural, are not mere decorative elements: they fully participate in the visual drama, lifting the ship and jeopardizing its balance. The foam, worked in light impasto, captures the light and energizes the pictorial surface. The sky, deliberately understated and largely unobstructed, contrasts with the marine turmoil. Its lighter palette—composed of bluish grays and milky hues—offers a breathing space that allows the eye to project itself beyond the immediate action. This contrast between calm sky and turbulent sea heightens the drama of the scene and situates the work within the grand tradition of marine painting, where nature remains a sovereign force. Zeytline demonstrates an almost documentary precision in his depiction of the ship and its rigging, revealing an intimate knowledge of the maritime world. However, this accuracy does not preclude a lyrical dimension: the work transcends the simple genre scene to achieve an almost epic vision of work at sea, where the tuna boat becomes a symbol of courage, endurance, and the daily struggle against the elements. Dating from the post-war period, this canvas illustrates the enduring nature of demanding figurative painting, faithful to the great classical subjects while incorporating a freedom of brushstroke and an expressive intensity characteristic of the mid-20th century. The tuna boat – high seas – thus stands out as an emblematic work by Léon Zeytline, combining technical mastery, a sense of movement, and poetic depth, and affirming his place among the most sensitive marine painters of his time. Good condition. Original frame. Dimensions with frame: 71 x 61 cm.