Reentering Port at Douarnenez (Finistere) 1906

Maxime Maufra made this painting of boats coming into port using oil on canvas. The way the paint is applied, in these short, choppy strokes, it’s like he's trying to catch the feeling of the moment, the light on the water, the movement of the boats. I keep thinking about process when I look at this, about all the decisions Maufra made as he built up the image, one brushstroke at a time. Look closely at the water. See how he uses different shades of blue and green to give it depth and texture? And then there's that touch of orange on the sails, just enough to catch your eye and make the whole thing sing. It feels really physical, you can imagine him standing there, battling the wind and the light, trying to capture something real. Maufra feels a lot like his contemporary, Monet, but with a slightly more grounded, earthy feel. You get the sense that he wants to show you not just what he sees, but what it feels like to be there, in that place, at that moment.