Mother and Child at Le Pouldu, Evening Light

From 1890, Maurice Denis asserted himself as the theoretician of the Pont-Aven School, formulating the fundamental principles dear to Gauguin and the Nabis. This canvas, painted in 1899 while on vacation at Portier guest-house in Le Pouldu, depicts one of the family scenes Denis was fond of painting. His wife Marthe and their youngest daughter Bernadette are flanked by Marthe’s sister Eva and the Denis’ eldest daughter, Noelle. Denis’ choice of colours gives a warm feel to the work, and this impression is strengthened by the contrastingly cool tones of the sea at nightfall seen through the open window in the background.