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Achille Laugé (1861-1944)

Achille Laugé (1861-1944)

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Barques a Collioure
Oil on canvas
France, 1928
 
Ornamental gilded frame
49.6 x 73.3 cm/ 69.2 x 92 cm
 
Signed and dated, lower right: A. Laugé 1928
 
Excellent condition

  • Coast of Collioure

    Barques à Collioure, a captivating oil painting that beautifully captures the serene coastal scene of Collioure, a picturesque town in the south of France.

    The painting features several boats gently resting on the calm waters, with the vibrant colors of the vessels contrasting against the tranquil blue sea and sky.

     

     

    Neo-Impressionism

     

    Laugé’s style in this painting is heavily influenced by Neo-Impressionism, characterized by the use of small, distinct brushstrokes that blend optically to create a luminous effect.

    This technique, known as Divisionism or Pointillism, was pioneered by artists like Georges Seurat and Paul Signac.

     

    The color palette is bright and varied, with a focus on primary and complementary colors. The use of contrasting colors enhances the visual impact and creates a harmonious balance.

     

     

    Capturing light and color

     

    The brushwork is precise and methodical, with each stroke contributing to the overall texture and vibrancy of the painting.

    This meticulous approach reflects Laugé’s dedication to capturing the essence of light and color.

    The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of tranquility and beauty, capturing the idyllic charm of the Mediterranean coast.

    The careful composition and use of light evoke a sense of calm and timelessness.

     

     

    Provenance

     

    • Sale, Phillips, London, 24 June 1996, lot 38;
    • Private collection, Gibraltar

     

     

    Literature

     

    To be included in the forthcoming Achille Laugé Catalogue raisonné being prepared by Nicole Tamburini

  • Achille Laugé (1861-1944)

    The son of wealthy farmers, Achille Laugé was born in Arzens in the Aude, 29th August 1861. When he turned to the age of 17, his parents sent him to study at a pharmacy in Toulouse. 

    However, against their wishes he enrolled at the school of the Beaux-Arts where he met the artist Bourdelle.

     

    In 1881 Laugé enrolled at the Beaux-Arts in Paris where he came into contact with the artists Alexandre Cabanal (1823-1889), Jean-Paul Laurens (1838-1921) and Aristide Maillol (1861-1944), who became a lifelong friend.

     

     

    Debut at the Salon 1884

     

    He debuted at the Paris Salon in 1884 with a painting depicting his friend Bourdelle. Laugé left Paris in 1888 and moved to Cailhau, near Carcassonne where he established many friendships.

    By the end of his time in Paris he had begun to adopt the divisionist touch of the Neo-Impressionists under the influence of Georges Seurat (1859-1891), and was an admirer of Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) and Paul Signac (1863-1935).

     

     

    Collioure

     

    Sunlight was seminal to Laugé’s paintings and his compositions reflect the harsh sunlight of the south.

    As with many of his contemporaries painting along similar lines, Henri-Edmond Cross (1856-1910) and Henri Martin (1860-1943) amongst them, Laugé was drawn further south, painting near Collioure on the coast and inland.

    He painted ‘en plein air’ using a mobile studio of his own design.

     

    In 1894 he exhibited three paintings at the Salon des Independants, as well as several works in an exhibition that included Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), Paul Sérusier (1863-1927), Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) and Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940) in Toulouse.

     

     

    Solo Exhibitions

     

    His first one-man show opened in Paris in 1907, followed by others in 1911, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1929 and 1930, held at the likes of Achille Astre, Bernheim Jeune and Georges Petit.

     

    In addition to landscapes, Laugé was a painter of floral still lifes being commissioned to design a tapestry to be produced by Gobelin.

     

     

    Retrospective exhibitions

     

    Laugé died at Cailhau on 2nd June 1944.

    Retrospective exhibitions of his work were held in 1958 at the Musée de Limoux, in 1961 at the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, in 1966 and 1968 in London, in New York in 1967 and in Paris in 1969.

    In 1968 he was represented in an exhibition dedicated to Neo-Impressionism at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and at a further exhibition of Neo-Impressionism at the Musée d’Orsay Paris Le Néo-Impressionisme de Seurat à Paul Klee, March - July 2005.

     

    Museums

     

    • Carcassonne
    • Geneva
    • Grenoble
    • Limoux
    • Montauban
    • Montpellier
    • Morlaix
    • Paris, Musée D’Orsay
    • Perpignan
    • Rome
    • Toulouse.
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