Honfleur, Le Phare Et La Jetée 1935

Maximilien Luce’s ‘Honfleur, Le Phare Et La Jetée’ is a dreamy, impressionistic painting, probably made with oils, that captures a coastal scene with a lighthouse, sailboats, and a jetty. The painting looks like it came together through intuition as much as intention; the dabs of colour create a shimmering effect, making the sea feel alive and the sky heavy with moisture. I imagine Luce standing there, trying to capture the light as it flickers across the water. What was he thinking as he laid down those strokes of turquoise and grey? Did he feel the wind on his face, smell the salt in the air? I always wonder! I’m struck by the way Luce balances the solidity of the architectural elements with the fluidity of the water and sky. It reminds me of Turner or Monet, these other painters who tried to fix a feeling that’s always shifting. Painting, like life, is all about embracing uncertainty and not trying to pin things down too much. It’s all about how to keep the conversation going.