18. Fishermen in Douarnenez Port [1938-1939]

Britain will become one of the reference places for Romanian artists in the first half of the last century. From Nicolae Grigorescu to Constantin Artachino, Gheorghe Petrașcu, Theodor Pallady, Jean Al. Steriadi, Rodica Maniu or Elena Popea, they will all step into the land of the French peninsula and will transpose it, at will, into their works. The marine space will undoubtedly fascinate M.W. Arnold, who will not only take over the motif, but will transform it into the favorite subject of his creation. Unlike painters Rodica Maniu or Elena Popea who directed their attention more towards encompassing local culture in their works, M.W. Arnold will not transcribe the traditions and customs of the Breton population, but the endless aquatic expanses with all their symbolism. The present work, which was part of the exhibition dedicated to the artist in 1970, is representative both through subject and technique; the works executed in oil being quite rare in the economy of M.W. Arnold's creation. We notice, therefore, that the foreground is developed horizontally, while from the secondary plan the elements rise perpendicularly. At the bottom of the work is concentrated a multitude of characters, hurried to take their places in the small boats. In the background, the sails of larger vessels rise triumphantly in the calm air of the shore. The character takes on a particularly symbolic role, being transposed as a pictorial element that helps to intensify the atmosphere.

References

Exhibition catalog "M.W. Arnold", Georgeta Peleanu, Museum of Art of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Bucharest, 1970.

Dimensions

width 54.5 cm, height 41 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed lower right, in pencil, "Max Arnold"

Research information

The artwork participated in the "M.W. Arnold" exhibition, Museum of Art of the R.S.R., Bucharest, 1970 and it is reproduced in the exhibition catalogue at cat. 55, under the name "Seascape".

Dating

1938-1939

PROVENANCE

Maria Mitroiu's collection.

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