5 Paintings of Brittany

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Brittany. I make the trip across the pond every chance I get to paint in the footsteps of some of the greatest names in 19th and 20th century art. Like them, I have been fully seduced by Brittany's Celtic past, strange legends, ancient chapels, wild seacoast, and perhaps most importantly, the dazzling blues of the Breton landscape.

I've written before about the strange appeal of blue, a color that many artists can't seem to get enough of.  It is everywhere in Brittany; from the electric blues of the hydrangeas (which I cannot recreate here in the U.S. no matter how hard I try) to the ever shifting hues of the sea and sky.

Here are 5 of my favorite paintings from great artists of the past who felt the call of Brittany. All of them capture those dreamy blues that are, for me, a hallmark of this very special place.

1.) Marc Chagall: La Fenêtre sur l'Ile de Bréhat

The Island of Bréhat is a 10 minute ferry ride from the shores of the magical Pink Granite Coast in Brittany. Chagall was not the only artist to visit and paint there. Gauguin, Maxine Maufra, Samuel Peploe and many others were drawn to the island’s scenery. The exact house from which Chagall painted La Fenêtre is still hotly debated by locals.

2.) Emile Bernard: Women at Prayer

The head-dress of Breton women (called a “coiffe”) was a subject of endless fascination for many 19th and 20th century artists. Coiffes differed from village to village, so they served as an important identifier of where a woman was from. I love the way Bernard rendered the dresses of the women in varying shades of blue (perhaps a nod to the overall feeling of blue in the Breton landscape?).

3.) Berthe Morisot: The Harbor at Lorient

Berthe Morisot is one of my favorite artists of the period. She painted this picture of her sister Edma, whom she was very close to, after Edma had married and moved to Brittany. Both girls were very talented artists, but Edma gave up her brush when she married. This painting has always struck me as a bit sad.

4.) Claude Monet: Grotte de Port-Damais

Monet visited the largest of Brittany’s islands, Belle‑île, in the fall of 1886. He had planned to stay for only a week or two; he left 3 months later. Monet reveled in the big rocks, the wild waves, and the local culture. He wrote to his friend and fellow artist, Gustave Caillebotte:  "I am in a wonderfully wild region, with terrifying rocks and a sea of unbelievable colours…”. I love the way Monet captured the water in tiny, broken strokes of color, juxtaposed with each other in a way that suggests the shimmer of the sun on the water.

5.) Edgar Payne: Concarneau Harbor

Edgar Payne was an American impressionist who painted a variety of subject matter, including the American Southwest. He traveled to Brittany in 1924 and became captivated with the colorful boats in the harbors around Concarneau (near Pont Aven). Today, one can still pick out some of his vantage points around the walled city of Concarneau. No one, and I mean no one, can paint boats like Payne. And this from a man who was known for painting mountains.

Curious about Brittany’s wonderful color and culture? Drop me a line…I will talk your ear off. I am busy planning next summer’s trip, and looking for fellow artists to join me. Get in touch!