On The Port Of Pouliguen By émile Gauffriaud - Brittany

Oil on canvas, signed lower left. Slight cracks in the sky at the top right. Dimensions without frame 46 x 38 cm, with frame 55 x 46 cm.

Georges Emile Gauffriaud (1877-1957) is a French painter, engraver, watercolourist and lithographer born in Brest in 1877. He enjoyed great success during his lifetime as a regional artist. He is a well-known figure in the city of Brest. His tall figure, wide-brimmed hat and ascot tie are part of the landscape, as he often paints outdoors. His wife and then his daughter sold Gauffriaud's paintings in their art gallery in Le Pouliguen, remarkable for its Art Nouveau decor. Gauffriaud is not interested in pictorial research, he likes to restore atmospheres, a character, an atmosphere. The artist resolutely chooses to paint his country, his sea and his boats. It is necessary to add to his favorite subjects some landscapes, Breton of course but sometimes also Limoges. He made several trips to the Côte d'Azur, from which he returned with canvases and watercolors bathed in the light of the south. When he does not sign with his full name, he uses the abbreviation Goff for his monogram. Gauffriaud's works are sought after by amateurs and often disputed when they go to auction, because his painting is full of charm. He died in 1957, after having remained nearly fourteen years without painting.