7. Charles Cottet (French, 1863-1924)

"Pecheurs du Soir".
oil on canvas, signed lower right, framed.
23" x 34".

8,000/12,000     SOLD: $5,060.00

Charles Cottet was regarded in his lifetime as one of the most original artists of his generation--a reputation the painter retains to the present day. A highly individual colorist, Cottet prefered to paint land- and seascape subjects that have a greater tonal intensity than was popular in the later 19th century. His taste for more challenging color harmonies and slightly somber lighting effects set his work apart from the brighter Impressionist canvases of the period. He painted with a directness and muscularity that has a strong affinity with the better-known Gustave Courbet. He became the leader of a group of painters with sensibilities similar to his, who became known as "La bande noire."

The subjects for which Cottet is best known are views of the sea just off the coast of Brittany. He preferred to paint at sunrise and sunset, times of day possessing more emotional resonance than the full light of the typical afternoon. The present painting is an excellent example of Cottet's work in Brittany--precisely the type of image upon which his artistic reputation was established.

Condition: uneven varnish layer, very minor spots of inpainting.