On the Cliffs of Belle Isle on Mer 1913

Maxime Maufra made this painting, On the Cliffs of Belle Isle on Mer, with oil on canvas, but when is anyone's guess! You can see the sun setting over the sea and it gives the sky a peach-like hue, which in turn spreads across the surface of the water. Maufra is a master of texture, and has used thick impasto to create the rocky outcrops that frame the composition. Look closely, and you'll see how he’s layered the paint, building up the surface to mimic the rough texture of the rocks. In the center, the sea shimmers with reflected light, each stroke capturing the movement of water. Notice that little sailboat in the distance, it almost looks like a Monet, who was an influence on Maufra, though Maufra had his own way of capturing the changing light and atmosphere of the Brittany coast. The beauty of art is that it never gives us all the answers, and that is ok.