Côte d'Opale dunes au soleil couchant 1986

Maurice Boitel painted this beach scene, Côte d'Opale dunes au soleil couchant, in 1979, likely using oils on canvas. Boitel really goes for it with these sandy hues, doesn’t he? It’s like the whole world is made of ochre and burnt sienna, mixed wet into wet on the canvas in a truly beautiful rendering. Look how he builds up the surface, thick in some places and thin in others. You can practically feel the grit of the sand under your feet. I love the little touches of green in the beach grasses, like tiny sparks of life. See how the brushstrokes are loose and expressive, as if he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, the last light before nightfall? It’s a reminder that painting is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. Boitel’s style reminds me a little of the Impressionists, especially someone like Monet, who was also obsessed with capturing light and atmosphere. But Boitel brings his own, more grounded sensibility to the table. Art is a conversation, right? It's all about taking what came before and making it your own.