Vue D’antibes 

Henri Lebasque painted this oil on canvas, called 'Vue d'Antibes', sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s an intimate view of the French Riviera, framed by the gnarled branches of a tree. Lebasque was part of a generation of artists who moved away from the strictures of academic painting, embracing a more personal, subjective vision. You can see that in the loose brushstrokes and the way he captures the light, the mood of the scene. The Riviera, at this time, was transforming into a playground for the European elite. Artists like Lebasque played a role in shaping this image, creating idealized visions of leisure and natural beauty. Understanding this artwork means looking into the social and economic forces that shaped the art world at the turn of the century. Through historical sources, such as exhibition catalogs, critical reviews, and artist biographies, we can begin to understand the cultural values that this painting reflects, and the role it played in constructing an image of the French Riviera.