Douarnenez Charles Martin Sauvaigo (1881-1970)

The Work:

Douarnenez
Charles Martin Sauvaigo (1881-1970)

Oil on panel 27 x 41 cm
Very good condition
Signed lower right and studio stamp on the back of the panel

Sale price: 440 euros

The interplay of light is central to this work.
The artist employs a post-impressionist technique with visible and vibrant brushstrokes that catch the light.
The palette is dominated by colored grays, muted blues, and ochres, enhanced by a luminous burst on the horizon (above the jetty) that creates a shimmering effect on the water.
The atmosphere suggests either the end of the day or a misty morning where the sun struggles to break through the cloud cover.
The composition is structured by a succession of horizontal planes that guide the eye toward the background: an expanse of water in emerald and blue-gray hues, rendered with broad, fluid brushstrokes.
A rocky islet in shades of ochre and brown occupies the center.
Behind it, a flotilla of small sailboats and rowboats is scattered across a silvery sea.
A dark jetty or breakwater stretches to the left, while to the right, the silhouettes of coastal buildings can be discerned in the raking light. The brushwork is precise for the masts of the boats and freer, almost textured, for the rendering of the rocks and sea foam, demonstrating his mastery of seascapes.

The Artist:
Charles Martin-Sauvaigo (Nice 1881-Paris 1970)
Born on February 7, 1881, in Nice,
Charles Martin-Sauvaigo showed precocious talent.
From the age of 10, he attended the studio of the renowned painter Félix Ziem, who strongly encouraged him. He began his formal training at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Nice under the direction of Alexis Mossa.
In 1900, he moved to Paris to attend the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Léon Bonnat and Luc-Olivier Merson.
Appointed Official Painter of the Navy in 1922, he devoted a large part of his work to water, ships, and ports. He became one of the founding members of the Société des Beaux-Arts de la Mer (Society of Fine Arts of the Sea).
Martin-Sauvaigo specialized in large-scale works and dioramas. At the 1937 World's Fair, he created an immense diorama of over 440 square meters for the Côte d'Azur pavilion, which was a resounding success.
From 1935 to 1954, he shared his knowledge as a drawing professor at the École Polytechnique.
Although often associated with the Post-Impressionist movement, his style is a harmonious blend of 19th-century classicism, the luminous explorations of Impressionism, and the modernity of Art Nouveau.
His works include landscapes of Nice and its surrounding region, market scenes, Breton ports, and scenes of North Africa.
He is said to have a remarkable ability to capture the light of the sea and harbors in its most tender and gentle form.
Charles Martin-Sauvaigo died in Paris on November 9, 1970.
His works can be seen at the Musée Masséna in Nice, the Musée National de la Marine in Paris, and the Musée d'Art Moderne.