Martigues, La Voile Blanche 1890 - 1895

Curator: Ah, isn't it stunning? Féliz Ziem's "Martigues, La Voile Blanche," likely painted between 1890 and 1895. He captured this scene en plein air, using oil paints and an impasto technique that really gives it a palpable sense of texture. Editor: It absolutely radiates tranquility. The colors are so soft, like a dream reflecting on water. That sailboat seems to float, suspended between the sky and the sea. Curator: Ziem, you see, was fascinated by light and its effects on water. Think about it: Venice was a huge inspiration, and the materiality of the paint – that thick, layered impasto – is crucial in capturing that shimmer. Consider the commercial paints available at the time and the accessibility plein-air painting provided to a rising middle class eager to display its new affluence. Editor: Absolutely! It also strikes me that it looks like a moment, just suspended – you almost feel the sun and wind! His brushwork gives the entire scene a breath. Almost Romantic, in a way. Curator: Yes! There's a definite through-line there. Though rooted in a traditional understanding of landscape painting, it certainly moves towards something…pre-Impressionistic. How he understood commerce impacting his ability to ply his trade, to select those very marketable spots... brilliant! Editor: Right! He’s totally inviting the viewer into that world. Curator: Exactly! I like to consider the economy and accessibility surrounding Ziem and paintings like this to inform its reception throughout history, too! Editor: You know, staring at this painting has me completely forgetting my worries! Almost a therapeutic encounter to be honest. Curator: I find thinking about its process, and what brought Ziem here allows it to stay with me long after I depart. Editor: Well, I'm definitely grateful for this little voyage. I feel refreshed!