Beuzec-Concq in Concarneau 1911

Maxime Maufra made this drawing, Beuzec-Concq in Concarneau, with what looks like charcoal and pastel, maybe even watercolour. It's all about the process of seeing and recording a place, more of an impression than a photograph. The material quality of the drawing is so present, you can almost feel the chalky texture of the pastel on the canvas. Look at the way he's layered the colours in the foreground, those scribbly lines of green, yellow, and brown creating a sense of depth and movement. The way he’s scumbled the colours together is so casual and free, as if he’s trying to capture the essence of the scene rather than a perfect representation of it. Maufra’s work reminds me of other impressionist painters like Monet, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. But there’s also something unique about Maufra's vision, a kind of rawness and immediacy that sets him apart. It's like he's inviting us to see the world through his eyes, in all its messy, imperfect beauty.