L'Estaque 1916 - 1919

Albert Marquet made this work, L'Estaque, in an unknown year with pen and black ink. It’s a drawing that immediately strikes you with its simplicity and balance. The composition is divided into three horizontal bands: sky, land and water. Marquet employs a minimalist approach, using sparse lines to define the forms of buildings and waves, creating a sense of depth. The water is rendered with rhythmic, horizontal strokes, capturing the gentle movement of the sea, reflecting the structures above. What makes this drawing interesting is the interplay between representation and abstraction. Marquet reduces the landscape to its essential elements. It captures the essence of L'Estaque, inviting us to consider how much can be communicated with so little. Through this careful balance, Marquet’s drawing functions as a sign, pointing to the real while also existing as an independent aesthetic object.