Georges Seurat (1859–1891)
1888, reworked around 1889
Oil paint on canvas
Port-en-Bessin, summer 1888
This is one of three paintings Georges Seurat made from the cliffs surrounding Port-en-Bessin, which complemented the three scenes he painted of the harbourside in the town itself. The vantage point was one adopted by earlier artists and favoured by postcard publishers for its far-reaching views. However, Seurat was most interested in composing the varied forms of the cliffs, buildings, harbour walls and boats. He greatly enlarged one of the sailboats to provide a strong vertical form on the left-hand side. The dark painted border was added by Seurat at a later date to amplify the luminosity of the painting. He also favoured contrasting frames and this one is said to have been painted by him.
Postcard of Port-en-Bessin, ‘The Town and the Cliffs’ around 1890–1910