Victor Louis Cuguen (1882–1969) Pontorson Market

Pontorson Market – Oil on plywood, signed Cuguen

A beautiful oil painting on plywood depicting a market in Pontorson, Normandy, bustling with people, vendors, and stalls at the foot of old houses.

The artist favors a highly textural and spontaneous painting style, built up with broad strokes of color. The facades, roofs, silhouettes, and stalls are rendered with great freedom, while the shades of blue, gray, ochre, pink, and red lend the entire scene a luminous and lively atmosphere.

The composition is particularly successful, with the wide perspective of the square in the foreground and the crowd bringing the entire scene to life. The thick, energetic brushwork evokes a Post-Impressionist sensibility, prioritizing light, color, and the overall impression rather than detail.

Signature: Cuguen, lower right
Technique: oil on plywood
Subject: Pontorson Market, Normandy
Dimensions of the artwork: 23.5 × 18 cm, unframed
Frame: antique carved and gilded wooden frame, highly decorative
Period: probably 20th century

A small painting full of character, particularly interesting for its specific regional subject, its highly expressive style, and its beautiful decorative presence