MAURICE MARTIN | Église de Village Enneigée
Oil on Canvas
53.5 x 65 cms / 21 x 25½ inches
Signed Maurice Martin (lower left)
Maurice Martin’s Église de Village Enneigée is notable for its subtle handling of light and atmosphere. The muted winter palette and expressive brushwork hint at the quietude and serenity of a snow-blanketed French village. The angular composition, with stark, bare trees and softly lit architecture, creates a contrast between nature and man-made forms. Historically, Martin’s winter scenes stand as an extension of the French landscape tradition, drawing comparisons with the tonal explorations of the Barbizon School while incorporating a touch of modernism.
A master of bold colours and strong form, Maurice Martin was a key practitioner in the Moret School of painting. This talented group of artists were indebted to the Impressionist artists, most notably Alfred Sisley, who painted at Moret-sur-Loing in the 1890s. Martin was frequently seen painting en plein-air, believing this to be the only way to capture the immediacy of the scenery. Martin's technique demanded a free and spontaneous style of painting in order to catch the rapid changes in outdoor light. He attempted to extract the colours and shapes as well as the fragrances of nature, putting the total ambiance and experience directly onto the canvas. The highlights of Martin's career were the Gold Medal he was awarded at the 1946 Paris Salon, and becoming Vice President of the Society of French Landscape Painters.
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