Historical Description:
Georges Braque (Argenteuil, Val-d'Oise, 1882-Paris, 1963) created this wonderful lithograph entitled La barque sur la grève (The boat on the shore) ca. mid 1950's. This extraordinary lithograph captures both the textural and coloristic qualities that were characteristic of Braque's later career and reveals his proclivity towards the depiction of maritime landscapes, which may have been inspired by his retreats to the Normandy Coast where he owned a home after 1930.

Published by Maeght in 1960, this work is part of a series of lithographs and etchings that were based upon Braque's original watercolors, gouaches and paintings. Braque was very involved in the printing process, overseeing either the engraver or lithographer, correcting the proofs when necessary. This piece is hand signed by Georges Braque (Argenteuil, Val-d'Oise, 1882-Paris, 1963) in pencil in the lower right margin; also plate signed in the stone in brown in the lower right of the image. Numbered from the edition of 300 in pencil in the lower left margin.

In sharp contrast to the cubist works created in collaboration with Picasso, this work displays the mature aesthetic style that Georges Braque developed starting in the 1920's and 30's. Through the use of a strong horizontal composition and muted tones, Braque creates a profoundly foreboding composition that captures the tempestuous nature of the sea. Further enhancing the disquietude of the composition, the artist's use of texture conveys a sense of frantic energy creating a feeling of urgency within the viewer. The bifurcated construction of this work both grounds the viewer in the foreground while the black expanse of sky and sea draws the viewer away from the known and into the unknown.