Braque, Georges (1882-1963)
Le port de l’Estaque (The Harbour at L’Estaque)
1906
Oil on canvas, 60.5 x 73 cm
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
The painting of the small town of L’Estaque in the Bay of Marseille depicts the landscape as a sea of flames. Reds, oranges, and yellows rise up against areas of blue, green, and black, and the contrasts almost make the painting glow. At the same time the various brushstrokes imbue the picture plane with a dynamic, almost vibrating quality. Braque was inspired by Matisse and Derain’s Fauvist style after having seen their works at the Salon d’Automne in 1905. Together with fellow artist and friend Othon Friesz he developed his own version of the style the following year. Braque’s first stay at L’Estaque was soon followed by more, but as early as 1907 he moved away from Fauvism’s bright palette. (SMK)