Pierre Pastre

PIERRE PASTRE (France, 20th century).
"Côte d'Azur", 1939.
Oil on cardboard.
Signed and dated in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 14 x 21 cm; 18,5 x 25,5 cm (frame).
The scene represents a rocky coast, with stone formations that extend from the foreground to the horizon, delimiting an inlet of calm waters. The composition is structured in three planes: in the first, the rocks washed by the sea stand out, painted with dense and dynamic brushstrokes that accentuate their volume and texture. In the second plane, the turquoise blue waters interrupted by reflections and shadows suggest the movement of the sea and the interaction with the submerged rocks. Finally, the background shows a strip of land with hills covered with vegetation and a clear sky that contributes to the sense of serenity. Pastre uses a warm chromatic palette for the rocks (ochers, siennas, pinks and touches of violet), contrasted harmoniously with the cold blues and greens of the sea and the sky. The application of the paint is impastoed in some sectors, especially in the rock formations, which suggests an expressive and material intention. The brushstrokes are evident, short and in multiple directions, generating a visual vibration that enriches the pictorial surface.