Paul Signac
Let's bring back some Summer memories!
This beautiful coastal scene depicts the setting sun over sardine fishing boats in Concarneau, a picturesque fishing town in Brittany, France.
Signac, one of the leading exponents of Neo-Impressionism and a pioneer of Pointillism alongside Georges Seurat, applied his signature technique of placing small, distinct strokes of pure color side by side, allowing them to blend optically in the viewer’s eye.
The title is unusually elaborate, reading almost like a line from a musical score. The term Adagio (meaning “slow” in musical tempo) captures the mood of the composition: serene, contemplative, and suffused with the golden light of the setting sun. The “Opus 221” reflects Signac’s habit, adopted in the late 1880s, of cataloging his paintings as though they were musical works, reinforcing his belief in the deep affinity between painting and music.
P.S. Nothing feels more like summer than a sunset at the end of a long day. Here are 10 stunning sunset paintings!
P.P.S. Want to carry a piece of the sea with you? Check out our Sea, Ships & Beaches 50 Postcards Set — a perfect way to send or keep coastal beauty close.