Maximilien Luce French, 1858-1941

Description

La Falaise de Mers depicts the chalk cliffs at Mers with directness and broad, loaded brushstrokes, to articulate the movement of sea and sky. Layered greens, blues and pale ochres establish a strong chromatic architecture. Luce's long engagement with Divisionist theory is evident in the broken handling of colour, yet here it is tempered by a more fluid-late-career confidence. The headland is constructed through weight and tone, anchoring the composition against the restless surface of the water.