This lively and beautifully colored French Impressionist river scene by Paul Flaubert (1928–1994) captures the movement and atmosphere of the Seine with two boats near a bridge, one sending a plume of steam into the air. The combination of water, architecture, boats and atmospheric effects gives the painting a wonderful sense of place and movement.
Flaubert was a French painter whose work was strongly influenced by both Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism. He painted a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, waterways, harbor scenes, figures and Parisian streets. His river paintings are particularly successful, using broken brushwork and contrasting touches of color to create lively reflections and atmospheric depth. Auction records document numerous works depicting the Seine, including views of Rouen, Paris and surrounding areas.
This painting is especially appealing because of its narrative quality. The two vessels are not simply decorative elements: one appears to be actively steaming along the water, giving the composition a sense of movement and everyday life. The bridge provides a strong architectural anchor while the water and sky open the composition and create atmospheric depth.
A particularly interesting aspect of Flaubert's work is his ability to combine Impressionist luminosity with Neo-Impressionist attention to individual touches of color. Rather than following either approach exclusively, he used elements of both to create paintings that are lively, colorful and immediately inviting.
This oil on canvas is signed lower right and presented in its original frame. Its elegant scale and animated subject make it particularly well suited to a traditional, French, European or collected interior.
Measurements: 26” × 23” framed and 21” × 18” unframed.
Condition: Very Good.
This lively and beautifully colored French Impressionist river scene by Paul Flaubert (1928–1994) captures the movement and atmosphere of the Seine with two boats near a bridge, one sending a plume of steam into the air. The combination of water, architecture, boats and atmospheric effects gives the painting a wonderful sense of place and movement.
Flaubert was a French painter whose work was strongly influenced by both Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism. He painted a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, waterways, harbor scenes, figures and Parisian streets. His river paintings are particularly successful, using broken brushwork and contrasting touches of color to create lively reflections and atmospheric depth. Auction records document numerous works depicting the Seine, including views of Rouen, Paris and surrounding areas.
This painting is especially appealing because of its narrative quality. The two vessels are not simply decorative elements: one appears to be actively steaming along the water, giving the composition a sense of movement and everyday life. The bridge provides a strong architectural anchor while the water and sky open the composition and create atmospheric depth.
A particularly interesting aspect of Flaubert's work is his ability to combine Impressionist luminosity with Neo-Impressionist attention to individual touches of color. Rather than following either approach exclusively, he used elements of both to create paintings that are lively, colorful and immediately inviting.
This oil on canvas is signed lower right and presented in its original frame. Its elegant scale and animated subject make it particularly well suited to a traditional, French, European or collected interior.
Measurements: 26” × 23” framed and 21” × 18” unframed.
Condition: Very Good.
