Louis Cazals, French Impressionist Paris River Scene, 1953, Oil Painting

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A charming French Impressionist river scene by Louis Cazals (born 1912), painted in 1953 and depicting a subject associated with … Read more A charming French Impressionist river scene by Louis Cazals (born 1912), painted in 1953 and depicting a subject associated with the artist's fascination with Paris and its waterways. Executed in oil on panel, the painting demonstrates Cazals' distinctive, economical approach to composition. Using loose and spontaneous brushwork, he captures atmosphere, light and reflections with relatively few carefully placed strokes, giving the small work a remarkable sense of immediacy. Paris became an important subject for Cazals during the 1940s and beyond. He painted the city's streets as well as the bridges and quays of the Seine, developing a particular affinity for urban landscapes shaped by water. His rapid, abbreviated technique has often been compared with that of Albert Marquet, whose similarly economical treatment of harbours and river scenes became an important feature of French modern painting. Measuring just 6 × 10 inches, the painting has the intimate character of a plein-air study while remaining a complete and highly decorative composition. The work is signed and dated '53 at the lower right, securely placing it within Cazals' mature post-war period. About Louis Cazals Louis Cazals (born 1912) was a French painter particularly associated with landscapes, townscapes, river scenes, harbours and ports. Born in Prades, Cazals began his artistic career as a painter and decorator before moving to Paris in 1930. His artistic education developed through extensive study in Parisian museums and through his association with Catalan painter Rafael Benet, whose advice helped strengthen Cazals' interest in Impressionism. Travel became fundamental to his career. He painted extensively throughout France and Europe, including Paris, Saint-Tropez, Brittany, Normandy, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Venice and the French Atlantic coast, as well as travelling to Morocco. His subjects frequently centred upon water: canals, rivers, quays and working ports. Cazals became particularly recognised for his rapidly executed compositions, characterised by fluid, abbreviated brushwork and an emphasis on atmosphere. He exhibited in Paris from the 1940s, including at the Salon des Artistes Français and Salon d'Automne, alongside numerous exhibitions elsewhere in France. His career is documented in Bénézit and in Pierre Camo's study of the artist. Details Artist: Louis Cazals (born 1912) Date: 1953 Medium: Oil on panel Period: Mid-20th century Origin: France Style: French Impressionist / Modern French Subject: Paris / River Scene Signature: Signed and dated '53 lower right Artwork dimensions: 15 × 25.5 cm (6 × 10 in.) Framed dimensions: 33 × 43 cm (13 × 17 in.) Size: Small Reference: Bénézit, Vol. III; Pierre Camo, L. Cazals See less