Emil-benediktoff Hirschfeld (1867–1922), The Port Of Concarneau

Emil-Benediktoff Hirschfeld (1867–1922) was a painter of Ukrainian origin born inOdessa in 1867;
he moved to Paris before he turned twenty and studied underWilliam Bouguereau.
He visited Brittany for the first time in 1891. Deeply attached to Concarneau, he became one of the painters of the Concarneau art group, alongside his friend Théophile Deyrolle (1844–1923) and Fernand Legout-Gérard (1856–1924).
He painted numerous seascapes,the port of Concarneau, and sailboats in a variety of lighting conditions.
He died prematurelyin Concarneau at the age of 55, leaving behind a captivating, sincere, and realistic body of workthat is highly representative of the Brittany that had so captivated him.
His works are held in numerous private collections and at theConcarneau Municipal Museum.
This painting is particularlyrepresentative of Hirschfeld’s artistry and his beautiful sense of light at theend of the day.
The subtle rendering of the harbor water illuminates the foreground of the painting, whilethe fishing boats enliven the background of the composition and stand outagainst a cloudy sky.
The day is drawing to a close after a day at sea, and the fisherman depicted on the right side of the composition is stowing his gear in his modest boat.
Hirschfeld’s warm colors, his generous and sensual brushwork give his works a personal style that is always authentic yet nonetheless eminently decorative.
This painting is on its original canvas and is signed in the lower left corner.