
SIGNAC, Paul, Port de Marseille, 1904
Born in Paris in 1863, Paul Signac abandoned his life as a young architectural student and began to travel Europe. Having a fondness for the … [Read biography »]



Signed Paul Signac (1863 - 1935), Pencil and watercolor on paper, Port de Marseille, 1904 ![]() |
| Artist: | Signac, Paul (1863 - 1935) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Port de Marseille, 1904 |
| Medium: | Pencil and watercolor on paper |
| Image Size: | 10 in x 8 in (25.4 cm x 20.3 cm) |
| Sheet Size: | 12 3/8 in x 10 1/8 in (31.4 cm x 25.7 cm) |
| Framed Size: | 31 1/8 in x 30 1/8 in (79 cm x 76.5 cm) |
| Signed: | This work is hand signed and dated by Paul Signac (1863 – 1935) in pencil in the lower left, ‘P. Signac | Marseille 04’ with the annotation, ‘à la buvette D’ in pencil in the lower right |
| Edition: | Unique original Signac watercolor. A statement of authenticity issued by the 'Archives Paul Signac' accompanies this work (signed by Francoise Cachin). |
| Condition: | In good condition with bright, fresh colors; the work is mounted to a secondary sheet with minor toning to the sheet edges, not affecting the image |
Price :Item# 2188 | $40,000 (BUY $100,000 IN FINE ART AND GET $100,000 IN FINE ART FREE!!!) To speak directly with the Director, Alex Adelman, please call (510) 777-9970 / 1-800-805-7060. |
| Description: | |
This glistening and colorful waterfront along the French Riviera is a scene that only Paul Signac can best capture. Known for his stunning renditions of landscapes and seascapes, Signac had spent sometime throughout southern France and especially, Marseille. His manner and style of watercolour technique has an uncanny ability to recreate the sparkling Mediterranean sun against the many sailboats throughout the port. This is a beautiful work using a combination of subtle pastel colors including sky blues, teals, greens, oranges, and even violets and fuschias. Created in 1904, this unique original drawing and watercolour is hand signed and dated by Paul Signac (1863 – 1935) in pencil in the lower left, ‘P. Signac | Marseille 04’ with the annotation, ‘à la buvette D’ in pencil in the lower right. PROVENANCE: ~ Otto Blumenfeld, Sussex ~ Mrs. Otto Blumenfeld, Sussex (by descent from the above) Catalogue Raisonné & COA: 1) A Masterworks Fine Art, Inc. Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work. About the Framing: | |
Biography of Paul Signac
Born in Paris in 1863, Paul Signac abandoned his life as a young architectural student and began to travel Europe. Having a fondness for the open ocean, Signac took to sailing the various port cities of the Mediterranean, especially those of France. Known for his brilliant landscapes and seascapes of Antibes, Marseille, Brest, and St. Tropez, Signac utilized quick and expressive strokes of color to evoke the beauty and the timelessness of the ports he visited.
Earlier in his career, he was a student of pointillism and socialized with the likes of Georges Seurat and Claude Monet. Both artists were incredibly influential to Signac as he developed his own neo-impressionist style. By the late 1880s and early 1890s, Signac had begun sailing full time, developing his pointillist roots into broader, more swift strokes of color as he traveled to more, far-reaching ports of Europe.
He became well-known for his beautiful watercolors and his ability to capture the Mediterranean sun and varying pastel colors including pink, sky blue, lime greens, and violets. He also experimented with mixed media, often combining pen and ink drawings with his watercolors. By 1908, Signac was president of the Société des Artistes Indépendants (Society of Independent Artists) which heralded avant garde works that became the foundation of several groundbreak art movements of the 20th century. Their motto: Sans jury ni recompense (No jury, no awards).
Signac’s later years found him permanently established in the south of France where he created most of his works of the region. He died on August 15, 1935 and was cremated and buried three days later at the famous Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.













