'Composition Marine' by Courdier (1989)

'Composition Marine' - Acquired in the South of France, this is a vibrant, dynamic abstract composition in pastel signed on art paper and dated "Courdier '89." Rendered by the artist with a bold, geometric approach, it is clearly influenced by Cubist and Fauvist traditions. The work distills a marine or dockside scene into faceted planes of saturated colour — deep oranges, cobalt blues, forest greens, and rich purples — bound together by confident black contour lines. Striped awnings, porthole-like squares, and the hull-like sweep of yellow evoke a harbour scene reimagined through a modernist lens. The interplay of patterned and solid colour blocks creates a strong cadenced energy across the composition, while the warm palette and angular structure give it presence and impact. Newly framed with a deep blue-grey mat and anti-reflective glass, the work is in very good condition and is signed in the lower right hand by the artist. Unfortunately, nothing is known about this artist but for a note included on a light board acquired with this artwork:

"La peinture est un art, et l'art dans son ensemble n'est pas une création sans but qui s'écoule dans le vide. C'est une puissance dont le but doit être de développer et d'affiner l'âme humaine."
— Wassily Kandinsky

(Translation: "Painting is an art, and art as a whole is not a creation without purpose that dissolves into the void. It is a power whose purpose must be to develop and refine the human soul.")

The artist then wrote his own note to someone to whom he is gifting the painting:

"Suite à cette pensée de Kandinsky, animée par un grand souffle spirituel, j'ai [aidé/décidé] à [décorer/découvrir] le meilleur de mes œuvres... [afin] de le donner en ce dernier jour de l'année 90, afin de le partager à ceux qui [me] suivent."

"Amitiés sincères et bonne année, J.P. Courdier, 31.12.90"

(Roughly: "Following this thought of Kandinsky's, moved by a great spiritual impulse, I [chose] the best of my works... to give it on this last day of the year '90, to share it with those who follow [me]." / "Warm regards and happy new year, J.P. Courdier, 31.12.90.")

Dimensions with Frame:

H 30.5 cm / 12"

W 36.5 cm / 14.4"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 17 cm / 6.7"

W 23 cm / 9.1"