Cliffs at Fecamp in Normandy 1920

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of the cliffs at Fecamp in Normandy with oil paint, likely en plein air. The dabs and strokes of color create a shimmering effect, like he’s trying to catch a fleeting moment. You can sense the breeze, smell the sea. The texture of the paint is really interesting, look how Loiseau builds up the surface with these tiny strokes. It's almost like he's weaving the scene together, one little piece at a time. And the colors, they're not exactly what you'd expect. There are all these unexpected pinks and purples mixed in with the blues and greens, giving the whole thing a kind of dreamlike quality. Notice the way he renders the cliff edge closest to us; it feels unresolved, chaotic. For me, that one spot sets the tone for the whole painting, art isn’t about perfection, or a single reading, but a record of a lived and felt experience. Think about Van Gogh and his dabs of color, there’s a conversation happening here.