'The Port of Le Havre' by Fred Pailhès (circa 1950s)

'The Port of Le Havre', pencil on art paper, by French artist Fred Pailhès (circa 1950s). Le Havre was only a fishing village until 1517, when Francis I had a harbour built there named Havre-de-Grâce. Enlarged and fortified under Cardinal de Richelieu and Louis XVI, it was further improved under Napoleon III in the mid-19th century. Almost three quarters of Le Havre's buildings were destroyed during WWII but were subsequently rebuilt. With all of its historical importance taken into consideration, the city is ultimately a sailor town. Just the sort the artist, Fred Pailhès, a native of the city, loves to depict. It seems to be a typically cloudy day in Normandy, the artist having created such atmosphere with his use of only pencil. It could be a sepia negative of a photo from the era. Such character and ambiance. The artwork is in good overall condition and has been newly framed and glazed with anti-reflective glass. The artist signed the work in the lower left hand. Upon request, a video may be provided.

About the Artist: French artist Fred Pailhès, (1902-1991) born in Le Havre, is primarily known for his paintings of ports and seascapes including Marseille and Nice in the south of France and Le Havre and Honfleur in the north. He is also known for his striking portraits of bohemians, vagabonds and everyday people, capturing humorous and sometimes strange expressions of people in the street. He loved sailor bars, music halls, lost souls - women and their eroticism, whatever he saw as long as he found mouvement and colour. Saucy scenes of cabarets and bistros and, of course, women are depicted in his art. There are innumerable drawings of women and dancers - in particular, Loulou, Pailhès' favourite from the Folies Bergères cabaret in Paris. 

Pailhès' work has been exhibited at the Musée Montparnasse and at the Chateaux Borély in Marseille. Pailhes died in 1991. Since 1986 Pailhès' works have been auctioned over 700 times and continue to increase in value. This piece of history is available for you. 

Dimensions with frame:

H 52 cm / 20.5"

W 41 cm / 16.1"

Dimensions without frame:

H 41 cm / 16.1"

W 30.5 cm / 12"