La voile bleue, Préfailles 1922

Henri Lebasque painted La voile bleue, Préfailles with oil on canvas, most likely in the early twentieth century. The painting depicts a group of women enjoying a view of the sea from a garden in Préfailles, a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. The painting’s subject matter and style reflect the growing popularity of leisure activities among the French middle class at the time. The Impressionists like Monet and Renoir had previously focused on similar themes of leisure and everyday life, but Lebasque’s style is more intimate and less concerned with capturing fleeting moments. Instead, his work emphasizes the decorative qualities of color and light. To fully understand this painting, we can research the history of tourism in France, the development of seaside resorts, and the changing role of women in French society. These avenues of inquiry can shed light on the social and cultural context of the painting, and its significance as a reflection of its time.