'Boats on a Pond' by Charles Kvapil (circa 1930s)

'Boats on a Pond', oil on canvas, by Charles Kvapil (circa 1930s). This tranquil artwork depicts people fishing from their small boats. The motionless pond is surrounded by lush foliage with some homes as backdrop. The painting is spattered with light. With hardly any air moving in the scene, the still water plays with its myriad reflections. The individuals, contemplative and meditative, are serenely interconnected with the trees on the bank, the plants sprouting from the earth and the fish in the pond. They are portrayed by the artist as simply another natural entity in the rich, green environment, even though the buildings a short distance away, somehow encroach upon the tranquility of the scene. Even so, Kvapil's exquisite brushstrokes still manage to conjure up an abundance of serenity and impart that to the viewer. This artwork is in good overall condition and is beautifully framed. Upon request a video may be provided.

About the Artist: Charles Kvapil (1884-1957) was born in Antwerp, Belgium. He exhibited his first works there in 1908 at the Salon d'Anvers. After the war he attended l'Académie des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp and began to exhibit in Paris in 1920 at the Salon des Indépendants. Kvapil was known primarily as a painter of people, in particular of curvaceous nudes. He moved into a studio in Montmartre where he painted his models in the studio with Sacré-Cœur as backdrop. He also painted in the countryside like the Impressionists. Kvapil's paintings are creative and modern; his nudes and bouquets of flowers are energetic and powerful. His palette is rich in cobalt blues and in fiery earth tones. His technique is intuitive and confident. Although his oils were often modestly presented on panels of wood or soft board, those formats did not detract from the evident talent he displayed nor from the joy exemplified in his paintings.

Dimensions with frame:

H 59 cm / 23.2"

W 75 cm / 29.5"

Dimensions without frame:

H 46 cm / 18.1"

W 61.5 cm / 24.2"